Paul Ibe, the media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has raised serious red flags over how President Bola Tinubu’s administration is managing the presidential air fleet. In a detailed breakdown shared on his X account on Sunday, Ibe questioned the transparency of recent aircraft acquisitions and the curious habit of the presidency relying on chartered foreign jets despite having a multi-billion naira fleet at its disposal.
The controversy centers on the $100 million purchase of a used Airbus A330 in 2024, which was intended to replace the aging Boeing 737. However, Ibe pointed out that shortly after the Airbus was delivered, it was reportedly sidelined for “refurbishment,” leading the President to fly in a chartered Boeing 737 owned by a foreign company, Luxaviation. This has left Nigeria saddled with the massive overhead costs of maintaining three major presidential jets simultaneously, in addition to several other smaller aircraft and helicopters in the fleet.
Ibe expressed deep concern over the security and symbolic implications of the President using a chartered aircraft. He argued that official government jets are equipped with specialized communication and security systems that standard charters lack. By opting for a private hire, the administration potentially exposes sensitive state data and the President’s movements to foreign eyes, while also failing to provide a mobile command center necessary for emergency situations.
Further complicating the matter is the fate of the original presidential Boeing 737. Ibe revealed that the aircraft has been quietly re-registered in San Marino under a new tail number. This move has sparked fears of an opaque sale of a national asset without public disclosure. He challenged the government to come clean on whether the jet was sold, who bought it, and where the proceeds went, especially given the current economic climate in the country.
Public records show that between July 2023 and January 2025, over N26 billion was spent on fleet maintenance alone. Critics, including former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, have joined in calling for more accountability. They argue that such heavy spending and lack of clarity on asset transfers send a negative message to citizens currently struggling with a high cost of living.
For many observers, the lack of an official statement regarding these charter expenses and the “secret” re-registration of government property only fuels the fire. As the calls for transparency grow louder, the presidency faces increasing pressure to explain why it is bypassing its own upgraded fleet in favor of expensive, foreign-crewed private jets.
