The Federal Government has put its two-decade-old Boeing 737‑700 Business Jet up for sale, with the listing hosted by AMAC Aerospace in Basel, Switzerland, marking the end of an era for the jet that has served multiple presidents.
How Much Was The Plane Bought?
The Boeing 737 business jet was originally purchased by the Nigerian government in 2005 for $43 million. Now, nearly 20 years later, a Swiss-based firm, AMAC Aerospace, is handling the sale on Nigeria’s behalf.
President Bola Tinubu stopped using the aircraft in August 2024, following public backlash over government spending during a period of economic hardship, especially after the acquisition of a new Airbus A330 for $100 million (over ₦150 billion).
However, despite acquiring the new aircraft, the old Boeing was not immediately decommissioned or sold off as initially planned.
Why Is The Plane Being Sold?
The Boeing jet, now two decades old, has become increasingly costly to maintain and has begun experiencing serious safety concerns.
Sources familiar with the operations of the presidential fleet disclosed that the jet has accumulated over $5 million in maintenance bills. This figure represents nearly half of the more than $10 million in liabilities inherited by the presidential air fleet.
In the final month of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the jet was sent for a major maintenance check in preparation for the handover to President Tinubu.
But since taking office, the aircraft has continued to require both scheduled and unscheduled repairs.
In April 2024, the plane experienced a breakdown during a mission to Saudi Arabia, sparking fresh concerns over its airworthiness.
Despite additional funds being spent to refurbish the aircraft’s interior in July 2024, the government eventually concluded it was time to phase out the jet. Complicating matters further, the aircraft’s two engines no longer have valid warranties or service agreements, meaning future repairs could be exceedingly costly.
The sale listing indicates that interested buyers can contact AMAC Aerospace directly to inquire about the asking price.
Nigerian Government Planes
Nigeria’s presidential fleet includes around 10 aircraft. Among them are:
- Regular planes: A mix of luxury jets manufactured by brands such as Gulfstream, Falcon, and Hawker. However, three of these jets are currently unserviceable.
- Helicopters: Four helicopters used for shorter presidential trips.
All aircraft in the fleet are operated by the Nigerian Air Force.
Additionally, the government recently acquired a replacement aircraft, the Airbus A330-200, for approximately $100 million. This new plane is significantly larger and more modern than the Boeing 737 it is replacing.
Yet, there has been some confusion. Since February, President Tinubu has been flying in a different aircraft altogether, one registered in San Marino, a small European country.
Meanwhile, the newly acquired Airbus A330 was sent to South Africa for repainting in Nigeria’s national green and white colours.
“The last I heard is that they took it abroad, I think to South Africa, to change the body design. You know it doesn’t have the green white green,” one source told The Punch, asking to remain anonymous.
“It’s not only the body paint. I learned they are doing some refurbishment on it,” a second official stated.
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