TheCable

Seventy-three billion, three hundred million naira. That is how much Nigeria has budgeted for the presidential air fleet from 2011 to 2020.

According to budget documents analysed by TheCable, the allocation for the ‘presidential air fleet’ as captured under the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) comprises a recurrent and capital expenditure of N35.9 billion and 37.4 billion respectively.

Besides the personnel cost covered in the budget over the years, some other items under it include utilities, materials and supplies, maintenance services, training, financial charges such as insurance among others.

PRESIDENTIAL FLEET OR PRESIDENT’S FAMILY FLEET?

On Friday, it was first reported that one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughters flew to Bauchi state in a presidential jet for a private function.

The action drew criticism from many Nigerians who lamented the cost implication of such a trip. Femi Falana, senior lawyer, said it has no precedent in Nigeria’s history.

But a presidential spokesman defended the action. Garba Shehu said it is “normal practice” for members of the president’s family to use the aircraft in the fleet for their private engagements — a claim Falana faulted.

The presidential fleet serves the president, vice-president and principal officers of the national assembly including the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives.

THE BURDEN OF RUNNING THE PRESIDENTIAL FLEET

TheCable could not immediately confirm the current number of the jets in the presidential fleet which stood at 10 as of 2015.

Buhari had even promised to sell two of the jets to save cost.

A look at the budgetary allocations for the presidential aircraft showed that it averaged N7 billion in the last 10 years.

The highest that has been allocated for the fleet was N18 billion — under the administration of Goodluck Jonathan — while the least was N3.54 billion, also under Jonathan.

Below is a breakdown of the budgetary allocations for the presidential air fleet from 2011 to 2020.