*Pix above: Presidential fleet with PBAT{inset}
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The Federal Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decided to sell three ageing presidential aircraft to gather funds to purchase a new one.
This is coming as the House of Representatives Committee on national security and intelligence recommended that two aircraft should be purchased for use by the president and the vice-president.
Shehu Buba Umar, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, also supported the recommendation by the lower chamber’s committee.
Selling off the three aircraft would cut by half the number of jets in the presidential air fleet which currently consists of six airplanes and four helicopters.
The current fleet, maintained by the presidential air fleet (PAF), an arm of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), include Boeing 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), a Gulfstream G550, a Gulfstream GV, two Falcon 7x and one Challenger CL605.
Insiders, however, said at least half of the entire fleet is made up of unserviceable or failing aircraft, necessitating the need to dispose those considered to be of greater burden to the fleet.
The jets pencilled down for sale, TheCable understands, are a Boeing 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), which is the president’s designated aircraft, one Gulfstream and a Falcon 7x.
The Federal Government has appointed a frontline US-based airline marketer, JetHQ, as the broker for the sale of the three aircraft, TheCable further learnt.
An exclusive marketing agreement had been signed between the Nigerian government and the company giving the firm permission to value the three aircraft and subsequently market them.
Insiders say proceeds from the sale would go into procuring a new jet for the fleet, for which a search is ongoing.{agency}/PLEASE SHARE
