Despite having ten functional aircraft in the presidential fleet, the Goodluck Jonathan administration has set machinery in motion for the purchase of a brand new airplane by making an initial deposit of N1, 520,000,000 for the aircraft.
The Presidential Air Fleet currently comprises of two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, a Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One – the president’s official airplane), and a Gulfstream IVSP, one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.
According to the 2014 budget estimates submitted by the Federal Government to the National Assembly last week for appropriation, several new items are to be purchased anew by the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) under the supervision of the State House, Abuja.
Other items listed as new in the PAF budget are – the completion of hanger project (N405,500,000), tyre bay tools and equipment (N106,000,000), Towberless tow tractor for aircraft towing ( N58,740,000), hanger sweeper (N31,870,000), luggage conveyor belt truck (N28,898,000) and harlan tow tug for aircraft equipment towing (N27,590,000).
Other new items are – CCTV and surveillance equipment (N18,000,000), aircraft tools and equipment (N11,480,000), battery workshop equipment (N5,050,000), complete tool box for general works and vehicles (N360,000), heavy duty crocodile jacks (N300,000), aluminum ladder (N285,000), safety boots (N52,500) and foldable ladder ( N50,000).
