The Presidency has revealed that the newly purchased presidential jet was bought below the market price, News About Nigeria reports.
The revelation was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, while officially unveiling the new Airbus A330 purchased for President Bola Tinubu.
Onanuga also noted that because the new jet was bought below market price, it has saved Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly, adding that it is essential at this time as the old one was already a burden.
Sharing pictures of the jet on X, Onanuga revealed that the new jet replaces the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) bought during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He, however, did not reveal the amount spent by the Nigerian government to acquire the new presidential jet.
Onanuga wrote, “President Tinubu departed Abuja Monday for Paris, France, using the new Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought under the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo. 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 state-of-the-art avionics, customized interior and communications system.”
