A FORMER minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has argued that no argument justifies the purchase of a 16-year-old Airbus plane by President Bola Tinubu, after months of speculation and allegedly with national Assembly approval, especially at a time most Nigerians are facing economic hardship and poverty, which led to the recent #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest, during which many citizens died, with over 1,000 still being detained.
Reacting to the purchase of the aircraft, Ezekwesili wrote on her X handle: “No argument justifies the purchase of a 16 year old Airbus plane by the @NGRPresident @officialABAT for his indulgence.
“No argument that can persuade reasonable people justifies this latest profligacy. Continue with your obscene indulgence until the day your hungry citizens can no longer bear to sleep on their empty stomachs.”
The Airbus A330-200 replaces the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) acquired under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Recall that during an investigative hearing, the National Assembly (NASS) had questioned the safety record and cost efficiency of the Boeing B737-700 (BBJ), especially after it malfunctioned during Tinubu’s trip to Saudi Arabia.
The lawmakers recommended a replacement, while the aircraft was put up for sale in France.
Interestingly, the Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) is one of the three presidential jets being detained following a Paris court order in a trade dispute between the Ogun State Government and a Chinese company.
Produced in Toulouse in southern France, the new presidential jet, in which Tinubu travelled to France on official visit, was delivered on August 18, has been registered 5N-FGA by the Federal Government.
Investigations by Newsguru showed that the Airbus A330-200 was first operated by Midroc Aviation in Saudi Arabia, with its main base at the Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport.
Configured for very important personalities (VIPs) and delivered to Midroc Aviation in November 2009, the aircraft was stored at Tarbes Lourdes airport in France until it was ferried on April 23, 2012 to Châteauroux-Centre Marcel Dassault Airport for repainting.
It was subsequently flown from Châteauroux-Centre Marcel Dassault Airport in May 2012 to Dallas Love Field Airport in Dallas, Texas in the United States (US) for cabin outfitting, which involves customising an aircraft to make it truly unique.
The long list of customisable features includes functional elements, like options for cabin entertainment; wi-fi Internet; galley appointments; controllable lighting and sound systems, to cabin comfort features and aesthetic details.
The interior furnishings of the aircraft can also be modified during cabin outfitting with new carpeting, upholstery, headliners and sidewalls.
In 2021, AMAC Aerospace acquired the aircraft from Midroc Aviation and it stored at Basel Airport in Switzerland, from where the Federal Government purchased it.
An online news platform had earlier in June this year disclosed that the Federal Government acquired the aircraft from a German bank, which had seized it from an unnamed Arabian prince that defaulted on a substantial debt.
The Federal Government has not revealled the actual cost of the aircraft operated by the Nigeria Air Force (NAF), but Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said the Airbus A330-200 was bought at a price far below market rates, without mention any amount.
“The new plane, bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.
“The recommendation to replace the B737-700 (BBJ) followed an investigative hearing by Nigeria’s parliament that questioned the plane’s safety record and cost efficiency, especially after it malfunctioned during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
“The Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended replacing the ageing aircraft in the presidential fleet to reduce downtime and operational expenses,” said Onanuga
Tinubu departed Abuja for Paris, on Monday, August 19, aboard the new Airbus A330 aircraft.
