TINUBU’S NEW JET: Presidency under fire as opposition say it bought ‘$100m aircraft’ without legislative approval

By KEMI KASUMU and OUR REPORTERS, Abuja

The Chinese firm released one of the seized planes, an Airbus A330, to allow President Tinubu to attend a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. This development fueled speculation that the released aircraft might be the same one recently purchased for Tinubu.

For purchasing a new presidential plane without required legislative approval, especially amidst criers of hunger, hardship of Nigerians and claims of cut in cost of governance conceding to protesters’ demand, the Presidency in Nigeria has come under bombardment of criticisms by opposition and other stakeholders in the country.

This was as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) blamed the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government for purchasing the presidential jet they said was worth $100 million without National Assembly approval.

Our media source said the parties described the action as insensitive, citing the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.

While the PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, stated that the purchase reflected the government’s lack of seriousness and misplaced priorities, the LP Spokesman, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, expressed concern that the President prioritised his convenience over the well-being of Nigerians amidst economic hardship.

The new Airbus A330 business jet was purchased last month and replaces the older Boeing B737-700(BBJ) and the Presidency, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, justified the purchase.

According to Onanuga, the purchase of the new jet was needed to ensure safety of President.

In a related development, some former principal officers in the Senate have also condemned the purchase, coming from the background that the process leading to it is shrouded in ambiguity as they criticised the secrecy surrounding the Service Wide Votes.

However, Senate President God’swill Akpabio has refuted claims that the Red Chamber had approved the purchase, saying the Senate has not even received request to make such purchase.

Civil society organisations, including the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership and the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), berated the Federal Government for using the Service Wide Votes to purchase the jet without appropriation.

They expressed concern over the lack of public trust in the National Assembly and its allegiance to the President.

‘No legislative approval for Tinubu’s new presidential jet’ – Akpabio, lawmakers

In the meantime, a fresh controversy has erupted over purchase of the new presidential jet for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with Nigerian lawmakers denying any knowledge or approval of the acquisition.

Despite the recent procurement of an Airbus A330 aircraft, the National Assembly insisted that it was not involved in the decision-making process, raising questions about transparency in government expenditures, especial now under Tinubu.

Further public worries emerged as Senate President God’swill Akpabio, while denying approval ever given for the jet purchase, boastfully said when Tinubu transmits the request for the already purchased aircraft, “We will approve it”.

That confidence with which Akpabio, who is chairman of the nation’s legislative arm intended by the Constitution to ensure checks and ballances in governance, has justified the worries of CISLAC and other Civil Society Organisations about lack of public trust in the National Assembly as actions of its leadership confirms the National has been pocketed by President Tinubu, a development described by many as dangerous for the country’s democracy.

Source of purchase

Reports first surfaced in late June when an online news platform (not The DEFENDER) revealed that the Nigerian government had acquired the Airbus A330 from a German bank.

The bank had reportedly seized the aircraft from an unnamed Arabian prince who defaulted on a substantial debt.

However, the Presidency at the time did not issue an official statement, leaving the public in the dark about the purchase.

The situation changed when Senate President Godswill Akpabio addressed the issue during a recent plenary session.

Akpabio confirmed that the National Assembly had yet to receive any formal request regarding the jet’s purchase.

“We care about the president and the Nigerian people. We will approve things that will benefit the Nigerian people,” Akpabio stated, emphasising that the matter had not yet been tabled for consideration.

Akpabio also highlighted the potential risks associated with using outdated or defective aircraft, referencing incidents involving the vice president of Malawi and the President of Iran, who both died in plane crashes.

We will approve request if… – Akpabio

“The Senate is very responsible. The National Assembly is very responsible. We will look into issues that will benefit the governance of the country,” he asserted.

Despite these assurances, Akpabio was clear that no such request had been made to the Senate.

Tinubu’s new plane and seized plane released by Chinese firm

The controversy deepened when three Nigerian aircrafts were seized by a Chinese firm, acting on a French court’s order amid a legal dispute between the Ogun State government and Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment.

The Chinese firm released one of the seized planes, an Airbus A330, to allow President Tinubu to attend a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

This development fueled speculation that the released aircraft might be the same one recently purchased for Tinubu.

A presidential spokesperson confirmed the purchase, stating, “That is settled. Something that is now released… If it was not purchased, how could it be withheld by the Chinese company? There’s no controversy around it.”

The spokesperson declined to be named and suggested that the aircraft might have been procured under the Service Wide Vote, which may not require National Assembly approval.

Lawmakers’ reaction to alleged purchase of new jet

However, lawmakers remain adamant that they were not involved in the process.

According to Daily Trust, a Senator disclosed that, “At no time was (the deal) discussed at the plenary meeting. It was not tabled.”

Another source echoed this sentiment, adding that the last communication from the Senate President indicated that no official request had been received from the Presidency.

Members of the House of Representatives also voiced their concerns, with one member stating, “We’ve not seen anything in the main budget or the supplementary budget about the purchase of a new presidential aircraft. It was presented as a lump sum… So, we cannot say anything until we see the details.”

The apparent lack of transparency and communication has left many questioning the process behind the acquisition of the new presidential jet.

As the National Assembly awaits further details, the public continues to seek answers on how the multi-million-dollar deal was finalised without legislative oversight.