President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly ordered that nine of the VIP transport aircrafts that are part of the presidential fleet should be sold.
According to ThisDay, the measure has been taken as part of the federal government’s cost-cutting measures.
The report further states:
The presidential fleet, which is registered as Nigerian Air Force aircraft, is one of the largest in Africa and the third largest in Nigeria after Arik Air and Aerocontractors.According to an aviation source, who is aware of the directive to sell the aircraft, the presidency has a number of serviceable and unserviceable aircrafts that need to be disposed of in order to reduce the amount spent by the federal government for aircraft maintenance annually.“Nine, which still have market value, are to be sold immediately to reduce maintenance costs,” he said.
For years, the federal government has spent over N12 billion annually for the maintenance of the presidential fleet.Although information on the exact size of the fleet is treated as classified information, the fleet, according to aviation sources, is believed to comprise about 16 aircraft, chief of which is the Boeing 738 BBJ, NAF 001 or Eagle One, used by the president for his travels.
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