The Federal Government has proposed to spend N4.96 billion
in 2018 on fuel and maintenance of the presidential jets, despite clamours for
reduction in the number of aircrafts in the Presidential Air Fleets (PAF).
Analysis of the 2018 budget currently before the National
Assembly for consideration showed that N1.37bn has been proposed for the
maintenance of the aircrafts, a value higher than the N850 million appropriated
for the same purpose in 2017 budget. Daily Trust also observed that the cost of
fuelling the jets have been cut by about half to N398 million in 2018 budget
proposal from the N900 million allocated for the same purpose in 2017 budget.
However, the
Federal Government has proposed to spend N1.17bn for the purchase of air
navigational equipment in the 2018 budget, higher than the N90 million budgeted
in 2017 and N262.4m allocated for the same purpose in 2016 budget. In addition
to purchasing new air navigational equipment, government also proposed other
N418.51m for repairs and rehabilitation of air navigational equipment.
Some of the new
projects included in the 2018 budget related to maintenance of the presidential
jets include, purchase of aircraft
mobile washing machine for N1.88m, mandatory upgrade and installation of live
TV and internet service on BBJ (5N-FGT) for N200m, compliance with mandatory
upgrade and installation of internet service on G550 (5N-FGW) for N240m and
installation of new cabin management system on GV (5N-FGS) for N375m. Other
projects include compliance with mandatory upgrades on PAF aircraft for N350m,
repair of aerial surveillance radar system for N 20.81m, overhaul of landing
gear for presidential BBJ aircraft for N196.50m and overhaul of aircraft
engines - FALCON 7X (5N-FGV) for N222.01m. Meanwhile, N7.26bn has been proposed
for the Presidential Air Fleet in 2018 budget for both capital and recurrent
expenditures, with capital expenditure put at N2.90bn.
Recall that not
long, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,
Garba Shehu, revealed in a statement that President Muhammadu Buhari order the
sale of two presidential aircraft, a Falcon 7x executive jet and Hawker 4000. The move was seen as a deliberate action to
reduce the fleets and save costs in the face of crippling economic condition in
the country, but the 2018 budget proposals for the fleets prove contrary.
In October 2016, shortly after the Federal Government decided to sell two
aircrafts, President Buhari handed over two additional aircrafts from the
Presidential fleet to the Nigerian Air Force.
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