Chief Bola Tinubu had to opt for a commercial flight to Saudi Arabia from the Netherlands after encountering issues with the presidential fleet. The incident left officials puzzled and raised concerns about the safety of the fleet.
According to sources, the main luxury jet scheduled for Tinubu’s travel underwent rehabilitation, while a second aircraft experienced technical problems in the Netherlands. Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the president’s plane encountered unspecified issues, including an oxygen leak, shortly before departure.
Consequently, Tinubu and his delegation had to leave behind the Nigerian government aircraft and arrange for a charter jet to continue their journey to Saudi Arabia for an economic summit. Tinubu and some of his aides traveled on a private Falcon 8X jet, while other officials and ministers made separate arrangements, including using support aircraft and commercial airlines.
The problematic aircraft, a Gulfstream G550, initially designated for Vice-President Kashim Shettima, was utilized by Tinubu due to the ongoing maintenance of his dedicated carrier, a Boeing 737 operated by the Nigerian Air Force 001.
Maintenance records indicate that the Boeing 737 has undergone extensive repairs at least seven times over the past three years, with over $8 million spent on fixing various vulnerabilities since December 2022. Aviation experts have criticized the high maintenance expenditure, advocating for the replacement of the aging aircraft to ensure safety and avoid unnecessary costs.
Despite managing official duties amidst recurring issues with presidential planes, administration officials are deeply concerned about the potential safety risks posed by the frequent malfunctions.
An official stated, “Many of us in this administration are more concerned about the clear danger that the planes are signaling than any ridicule from their frequent breakdowns. We are being told that the planes are old, and there should be serious consideration towards their replacement.”
Nigeria has historically maintained a near-perfect record in air travel among its leaders, dating back to the early 1960s. However, safety concerns emerged following a helicopter crash in February 2019 involving former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Although a formal investigation report on the crash was never publicly released, questions were raised about the maintenance practices of the helicopter operators.
