NEW PRESIDENTIAL JETS! NIGERIANS REACT. REPS APPROVE. Another unnecessary expense?

Prominent Nigerians and groups have knocked the move to procure a new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima, despite the downturn in the nation's economy. They expressed shock that the presidency was making such a move when majority of Nigerians were struggling to feed

The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has asked the federal government to immediately purchase new aeroplanes for the use of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

According to them the presidential fleet has six aircraft: one Boeing 737, a Gulfstream G550, a Gulfstream GV, two Falcon 7Xs, and a Challenger CL605. The committee said three of the aircraft were unserviceable as of the time it conducted its hearing.

The fleet also has six helicopters: two Agusta 139s and four Agusta 189s. The Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Olayinka Oyesola, an Air Vice Marshal, said the two Agusta 139s are currently unserviceable.

However, according to reports, the Vice President’s Gulfstream G550 is in good condition while one of the Falcon 7Xs is serviceable.

The Challenger CL605 is also said to be serviceable.

This implies the presidential fleet has four good aircraft and a state of emergency in the presidential fleet does not exist as the members of the nation’s House of Representatives tried to make Nigerians believe.

It will be recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari promised to reduce the number of planes in the fleet by selling off some of the aircraft. That promise was not fulfilled. Instead, the government increased the cost of running the fleet by 190 per cent between 2016 and 2020.

When some opposition lawmakers opposed the motion, the House’s Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, who presided over the session, ruled that the motion should be withdrawn and asked Mr Satomi to exercise his committee’s discretion to probe the fleet’s status.

The House of Representatives said a new aircraft “befitting the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be procured, taking into consideration the country’s leading role in the West African, African, and global scheme of affairs.”

The larger committee accepted those recommendations and has since forwarded its advisory to the presidency for necessary action.

At a time the government is pleading paucity of funds in their negotiation with organized labour over minimum wage and the presidency keeps asking Nigerians to persevere and tighten their belts, the recommendation of the lawmakers seems out ot tune with reality of the Nigerian situation.

Labour and the Federal Government have been at loggerheads over a new national minimum wage. Labour is pushing for N250,000, while government says it can only afford N62,000 due to economic constraints. Additionally, the government has urged Nigerians to embrace austerity measures and make sacrifices for the country during these challenging economic times.

A Bombardier Global XRS costs up to $69,995,000 (N 105,077,700,000.00), over a hundred billion.

The price for a new Gulfstream G500 is $45 million (N 67,549,950,000.00), almost seventy billion.

Bombardier Challenger 605 prices is $13,250,000 (19,889,710,000.00), almost twenty billion.

Reactions have come from Nigerians from all works of life and hardly any is in support of both the Legislative arms of the Nigerian government and the Presidency.

The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), the the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ahamba, and others have said a jet should not be the priority of the presidency at a time Nigerians can barely feed.

The PDP said President Tinubu has no moral justification to ask Nigerians to make further sacrifices if the government has enough money to splash on mere luxury.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that the citizens have been sacrificing since the advent of the Tinubu administration on May 29, 2023 and asking Nigerians to make further sacrifices would be tantamount to telling them to commit suicide.

“If the government is so reckless in spending, then it has no moral justification to ask the citizens to sacrifice. In any event, the appropriate word is to say to the government, ‘Let the poor breathe.’ That would be the right word to say to them.”

The former Anambra State Governor, and Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, described the plan the of Federal Government to purchase new aircraft to add to the presidential fleet as unacceptable and a clear show of insensitivity to the suffering of the Nigerian people.

“At a time when our country is on the front page of global newspapers for facing its worst economic crisis, marked by high inflation, a falling currency, and widespread poverty, the government is contemplating buying new presidential jets.  This demonstrates extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles.”

“With rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness, this decision highlights the disconnect that is apparent between the government and the people.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also kicked against the plan, accusing the ruling elite of prioritising luxury over the needs of the Nigerian people.

When it comes to the comfort of the members of the ruling political elite, there is no limit to what the state can do. But, when it comes to the basic necessities of the ordinary Nigerian, they begin to use a calculator.

“There is always enough for the pleasures or the passions of the ruling political elite, but never enough for the necessities of the citizenry. Purchasing a presidential jet cannot be a necessity for now, given the complaints or comments from the ruling political elite. It cannot be a priority for now.”

The chairman, SMES Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Daniel Dickson-Okezie, said it was most unfortunate but not surprising that the president wanted to get a jet at this critical time.

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) president, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, described the idea as “insensitive” to the current economic hardship in the land.  “I am totally not in support of any new aircraft at the moment. Rather, he should stay at home and work or manage the available ones. Let us be honest with ourselves, this is not acceptable and Nigerians must not be in support of this idea.

The Middle Belt Forum, through its president, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, said Tinubu should be more sensitive to the plight of Nigerians and not indulge in extravagant expenditures.

Reacting, the immediate past Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, expressed shock that President Tinubu wanted Nigerians to be patient with him but he was not ready to be patient with Nigerians.

“Do we need a presidential jet now when many Nigerians cannot eat; when labour is calling for improved salaries? I’m one of those pleading that labour must not ask for what the government cannot pay. For me, this is not right.”

General Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as well as the Chairman, CAN, NorthWest zone, Elder Sunday Oibe said: “Something is truly wrong with our political leadership. Does he want all Nigerians to die and be buried for him to know that we are making real sacrifices? Nigerian politicians want the rest of us to make sacrifices but their flamboyant lifestyle never suggests any sacrifice on their part.”

Spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, also said the decision to purchase a new jet at a time the bulk of the population cannot feed calls for serious concern.

“Many people, myself included, do not find this decision to be necessary given the current realities facing Nigeria. In a country where millions of people are struggling with hunger and poverty, where inflation is on the rise and necessities are becoming increasingly unaffordable, the plan by the government to splurge on a new luxury jet seems not only unnecessary but incredibly insensitive.”

It is important for the government to be mindful of the current realities facing the country and to prioritise the needs of the people above all else. While it may be convenient for the government officials to have access to a new jet for official travel, this luxury should not come at the expense of the well-being of the citizens they are meant to serve.

The government, it will be recalled budgeted a whopping $15 million for the Vice President’s residence.

The government is also constructing the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway at a total cost of N2. 8trn.

Under the same administration, members of the National Assembly received brand new 2023 models of Toyota Land Cruiser and Prado Sports Utility Vehicles that cost the nation at least N57.6bn in total.

Given Nigeria’s dwindling revenues, the Tinubu administration’s penchant for profligacy has been very troubling.

 More reactions are expected from more Nigerians.