Nigeria’s newly acquired presidential jet, an Airbus A330-200 registered as 5N-FGA, has been flown to South Africa for refitting and repainting, a move that has reignited debates over government spending in a nation grappling with economic hardship.
The aircraft, purchased in August 2024 for $100 million, was sent abroad to update its livery to reflect the Nigerian presidency and undergo upgrades, according to sources cited by The PUNCH.
The decision, confirmed by posts on X and a detailed report from Punch on May 9, 2025, comes as the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) consumed N20.03 billion for maintenance and operations from July 2023 to December 2024, highlighting the high cost of maintaining Nigeria’s extensive fleet of 11 aircraft.
The Airbus A330, a 15-year-old VIP-configured jet previously owned by Saudi Arabia’s Mid East Jet, was acquired to replace the aging Boeing 737-700 (BBJ), which had become a “money guzzler” with frequent malfunctions, including faults during President Bola Tinubu’s trips to Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands in 2023.
The new jet, described by Tinubu’s aide Bayo Onanuga as featuring “state-of-the-art avionics, a customized interior, and a communications system,” was touted as a cost-saving measure, potentially saving millions in annual maintenance and fuel costs.
However, its dispatch to South Africa for cosmetic and technical upgrades has drawn scrutiny, with critics questioning the timing and transparency of the expenditure amid Nigeria’s worst economic crisis in decades, marked by 34% inflation and widespread poverty.
The PAF, operated by the Nigerian Air Force under the Office of the National Security Adviser, includes a Gulfstream G550, G500, two Falcon 7Xs, a Hawker 4000, a Challenger 605, and four helicopters, three of which are reportedly unserviceable.
The A330’s refurbishment, handled by an undisclosed facility in South Africa, aims to align its appearance with Nigeria’s national branding, a process sources say is standard for newly acquired state aircraft.
Yet, the move has sparked outrage on X, with users like @ParallelFacts decrying the “exotic refurbishment” as insensitive, and @NaijaOnPoint questioning why such work couldn’t be done domestically to save foreign exchange.
The secrecy surrounding the jet’s cost and funding—drawn from service-wide votes without National Assembly approval until a supplementary budget in July 2024—has fueled accusations of fiscal irresponsibility.
The acquisition, brokered by Florida-based L & L International LLC and AMAC Aerospace Switzerland, followed the jet’s repossession from a defaulting sheikh by a German bank, valued at $600 million but sold at a discount.
Its release from a Paris court seizure in August 2024, linked to a Chinese firm’s dispute with Ogun State, added diplomatic intrigue.
Supporters, including Senate committee chairman Shehu Buba Umar, argue the jet enhances Nigeria’s global image and ensures the president’s safety, citing incidents like Malawi’s vice president’s fatal 2024 crash in an aging plane.
Critics, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi, counter that the funds could address pressing needs like healthcare, with BudgIT noting the PAF’s budget exceeds federal university allocations.
What you should know
As Tinubu’s administration pushes its “Renewed Hope” agenda, the South Africa trip for the jet’s makeover underscores a broader tension: balancing leadership’s prestige with public welfare.
With three PAF aircraft up for sale to offset costs, per TheCable, and economic reforms like tax bills under debate, the refurbishment risks further alienating Nigerians unless tangible benefits emerge.
For now, the A330’s journey south marks another chapter in Nigeria’s complex saga of presidential air travel, where symbolism often clashes with economic reality.
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