Nigeria is promoting the airplane that carried its president for practically 20 years, marking the top of an period for the jet that has served a number of presidents.
The federal government purchased the Boeing 737 jet for $43 million in 2005. Now, a Swiss firm is promoting it on Nigeria’s behalf.
President Bola Tinubu stopped utilizing the outdated airplane final August. He switched to a more recent, greater airplane after individuals complained about authorities spending throughout powerful financial instances.
Why is the airplane being bought?
The 20-year-old Boeing jet had change into too costly to repair and hold working. It additionally developed security issues.
In April 2024, the airplane broke down throughout a visit to Saudi Arabia. This apprehensive officers about whether or not it was nonetheless protected to fly.
Though the federal government spent cash fixing up the within of the airplane in July 2024, they determined it was time to eliminate it.
The airplane’s two engines lack any guarantee or service plan. This implies if one thing goes flawed, repairs may break the bank.
Nigeria has many authorities planes
Nigeria’s president has entry to about 10 plane. These embrace:
- Common planes: A number of luxurious jets made by corporations like Gulfstream, Falcon, and Hawker. Three of those planes don’t work correctly proper now.
- Helicopters: 4 helicopters that may carry the president on shorter journeys.
The Nigerian Air Power operates all these plane.
Additionally, the federal government purchased a alternative airplane for about $100 million. This Airbus A330-200 dwarfs the outdated Boeing jet.
However confusion has emerged. Since February, President Tinubu has used a distinct airplane altogether – one registered in a small European nation known as San Marino.
In the meantime, Nigeria despatched the brand new $100 million airplane to South Africa for repainting within the nation’s inexperienced and white colors.
“The final I heard is that they took it overseas, I believe to South Africa, to alter the physique design. You recognize it doesn’t have the inexperienced white inexperienced,” one supply instructed The Punch, asking to stay nameless.
“It’s not solely the physique paint. I realized they’re performing some refurbishment on it,” a second official acknowledged.
What’s contained in the airplane being bought?
The Boeing jet on the market resembles a flying luxurious lodge. It could actually carry 33 passengers and eight crew members.
Inside, 5 totally different zones serve totally different functions:
Zone 1: The place the crew can relaxation; Zone 2: A bed room with a mattress and couch, plus a non-public toilet; Zone 3: A gathering room with 4 seats; Zone 4: 9 first-class seats; Zone 5: Eighteen business-class seats
The airplane incorporates two kitchens with ovens, microwaves, and fridges. 4 loos serve passengers all through the plane.
Passengers can use Wi-Fi and watch TV on a number of screens, together with an enormous 32-inch display within the bed room.
How the airplane works
The Boeing jet has two highly effective engines that may fly lengthy distances with out stopping for gasoline. Further gasoline tanks let it carry 70,000 kilos of gasoline – that’s in regards to the weight of 35 automobiles.
The airplane carries fashionable security and navigation tools that meets worldwide flying guidelines.
White paint with inexperienced stripes covers the plane to indicate Nigeria’s nationwide colors.
What occurs subsequent
Proper now, the airplane sits in Switzerland getting security checks earlier than Nigeria can promote it. The corporate promoting it hasn’t revealed how a lot they need for it.
Each former President Buhari and present President Tinubu have promised to scale back the variety of authorities planes to avoid wasting taxpayers’ cash.
Promoting this outdated airplane seems to advance that plan, particularly since Nigeria faces financial issues and desires to chop authorities spending.
