The Presidency has confirmed purchase of a new presidential jet for the use of Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Metrobusinessnews.com (MBN) reports the presidential jet is an Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ), acquired under Olusegun Obasanjo as president.
Infact, MBN gathered that President Tinubu departed Abuja for Paris, France Monday using the new presidential Airbus A330.
According to a statement by Mr Bayo Onanuga, Adviser to Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the new presidential jet was bought at a price far below the market rates.
But most Nigerians, appreciating the efforts being out in place to improve the living conditions of the citizens, have faulted the timing as well as the prevailing economic hardship.
According to some of them, the presidency’s going ahead for an Airbus at a time the same government is calling for reduction in cost of governance looks ‘contradictory and hypocritical’.
For instance, Shehu Musa Gabam, National Chairman, Social Democratic Party (SDP) says it ‘ dies not make economic sense going fir an aircraft now and an airbus at thst when the same government is canvassing fir fewer people on the entourage of the president.
Gabam, who spoke on Channels Television’s, Politics Today program on Monday said, “it shows either the presidency is taking the citizens fir granted or deliberately out of touch with realities on ground,”.
Another respondent sees presidency’s action as tantamount to telling the citizens that their feelings do not matter, adding, “how else will one describe the government’s action few weeks after mass protests over hardship and months after billions spent on renovating the vice president’s lodge.
But, Onanuga added that, the recommendation to replace the B737-700 (BBJ) followed an investigative hearing by the National Assembly (NASS) that questioned the plane’s safety record and cost efficiency, especially after it malfunctioned during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
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“The new plane, bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.
“The recommendation to replace the B737-700 (BBJ) followed an investigative hearing by Nigeria’s parliament that questioned the plane’s safety record and cost efficiency, especially after it malfunctioned during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
“The Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended replacing the ageing aircraft in the presidential fleet to reduce downtime and operational expenses.
“The new plane is spacious and is furnished with the state-of-the-art avionics, customized interior and communications system.,” Onanuga stated.