Nigerians Furious Over President's New Plane

Many Nigerians reacted with outrage after a new plane was purchased for President Bola Tinubu, while the economy is going through its worst crisis in a generation.

The purchase comes less than two weeks after thousands of people across the country took to the streets to protest rising hunger and the cost of living.

Mr Tinubu was elected leader of Africa’s most populous country last year and has implemented several economic reforms, including the abolition of fuel subsidies, which have contributed to high inflation, which currently stands at more than 30%.

President Tinubu said the reforms were needed to reduce government spending and boost long-term growth.

In January, the Nigerian president announced that the size of official travel delegations, including his own entourage, would be reduced by 60%.

On Monday, however, the president left for France on a newly purchased Airbus A330, the latest addition to the presidential fleet of more than five aircraft.

The cost of the plane has not been disclosed, nor has the reason for his journey been disclosed.

X user @Fdmlearn said it was wrong that Nigerians were told to suffer economically while the government bought a new plane for the president.

“Wait a minute, despite the Tinubu-led government telling Nigerians to endure economic hardships and wait for a better future, they were busy paying cash for a new private jet to add to the presidential fleet that already consists of over 6 aircraft?”

Another X user @RealOlaudah was even angrier.

“Let us tell ourselves the truth. Tinubu’s new Airbus presidential jet purchase for N150 billion at a time of poverty, hunger and want shows how evil, selfish, self-righteous and insensitive to the plight of the average Nigerian he really is.”

However, @Timi_The_Law says he supports the president’s decision as the plane is not personal but belongs to the president’s office.

“Tinubu’s decision to buy a new plane is the right one. The plane belongs to the office of the president and future presidents will enjoy it,” he posted.

It is not known whether lawmakers approved the purchase, which was not mentioned in this year’s budget.

In a statement on X, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s media adviser, said the new plane would indeed save money.

“The new aircraft, purchased well below market price, will save Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, which run into millions of dollars annually,” the statement said.

The new presidential plane was recently released to the Nigerian government after it was seized by a Chinese company, Zhangson Investment Co. Limited, which had obtained an order from a Paris court to seize a number of Nigerian government assets following an investment dispute with Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria.

The 15-year-old plane, with a market value of $600 million (£460 million), would have an expanded VIP configuration and replace the country’s 19-year-old Boeing BBJ 737-700.

Nigerian officials have previously said the presidential fleet incurs high maintenance costs due to the age of the aircraft.

In June, lawmakers recommended purchasing two new planes for the president and his deputy, saying the old planes were unsafe.

Last month, lawmakers passed a supplementary budget that will increase the 2024 budget from 28.7 trillion naira (US$18 billion; £14 billion) to 35.06 trillion naira.

It is not known whether the purchase of the new aircraft was included in this budget.

The BBC has contacted the Senate President and the Office of the National Security Adviser, but has not yet received a response.