Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has questioned what he described as secrecy surrounding the handling of Nigeria’s presidential air fleet, raising concerns over transparency, cost and national security.

Ibe raised the concerns in a statement on Sunday, drawing attention to a series of developments involving presidential aircraft, from technical failures and emergency charters to new acquisitions, refurbishments and reports of possible asset disposal, which he said require public explanation.

Nigeria’s Boeing Business Jet 737-700 (737-7N6/BBJ), registered 5N-FGT, served as the country’s primary presidential aircraft from 2005 until April 2024, when it was replaced shortly before President Bola Tinubu travelled to The Hague for economic and diplomatic engagements hosted by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Days later, as the President prepared to proceed to Saudi Arabia for a special World Economic Forum session in Riyadh, reports emerged that the aircraft had developed technical problems.

Ibe said, “Shortly before President Tinubu was scheduled to depart the Netherlands to Saudi Arabia for a special session of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, it was reported that his plane had suffered unspecified problems. Some of the technical complications included an oxygen leak.

“This allegedly forced the president and his delegation to leave behind the Nigerian government aircraft and use a private charter jet to facilitate their onward journey.”

He said President Tinubu and some of his aides left Rotterdam aboard a Falcon 8X private jet (9H-GRC).

Within weeks, an Airbus A330-243 business jet (5N-FGA) was acquired as an upgrade to government transport, with President Tinubu flying the aircraft from Abuja to Nice on August 19.

The aircraft, delivered in 2009 and previously owned by a German bank and an Arab prince, underwent repainting and cabin outfitting before delivery. At the time, the President’s Special Adviser on Communication, Bayo Onanuga, defended the acquisition.

Ibe noted, however, that the Airbus A330 was withdrawn from use weeks later, with officials explaining that it was undergoing refurbishment, while the President reportedly began flying on a foreign-crewed, San Marino-registered Boeing 737 NG/MAX (T7-NAS) owned by Luxaviation.

According to him, the situation later shifted again, with the older Boeing 737 BBJ (5N-FGT), earlier said to be up for sale, reportedly repaired and returned to service, while the Airbus A330 reappeared in Nigeria with a new green-and-white colour scheme. Despite this, the President was said to have continued using the chartered aircraft.

“Nigeria is now saddled with the cost of running three big presidential aircrafts in addition to other aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet.

“Using a chartered aircraft for presidential transport has significant implications for national security, integrity, and public perception.

“Unlike the presidential aircraft, the chartered aircraft cannot serve as a mobile command center, ensuring continuity of government in emergency situation.

“The Tinubu government needs to inform Nigerians if it was sold. If yes, to whom and for how much?

“With the level of sleaze in the country presently, Nigerians need to be better informed about the transfer or sales of our assets,” he added.