The president did not buy a new jet; what he has is a refurbished jet
President Bola Tinubu’s newly acquired Airbus A330 presidential jet has been flown to South Africa for refitting and repainting. The aircraft, which was previously used by an Arab prince and later seized due to unpaid debts, was bought by Nigeria for over $100 million, significantly lower than its estimated market value of $600 million.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga clarified, “The president did not buy a new jet; what he has is a refurbished jet – it has been used by somebody else before he got it but it is a much newer model than the one President Buhari used.” He added that the aircraft will reduce the high maintenance and fuel costs associated with the older presidential fleet, stating it “saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.”
However, opposition leaders and civil society groups have criticized the purchase. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, called it “extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles.”
