Nigeria’s Presidential Jet May Be Seized by Overseas Collectors

Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet may very well be a danger of being seized by overseas collectors. Punch NG is reporting that the chief air transport unit presently owes service suppliers for airworthiness upgrades made for the plane. Lawmakers additionally haven’t allotted the unit a excessive sufficient price range to obtain scheduled updates to take care of airworthiness. As a consequence, service had been postponed to stop the plane from being impounded. The scenario has raised questions on whether or not overseas entities can seize government-owned planes, or whether or not they’re immune as diplomatic property.

The Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) serves the identical goal as the federal government plane of different international locations. The unit is supposed to supply protected transport for the President, Vice President and different officers within the Nigerian authorities. There are presently ten plane within the fleet: 4 AgustaWestland helicopters, two Gulfstream enterprise jets, two Dassault Falcon 7Xs enterprise jets and a Boeing Enterprise Jet (737-800).

The President Air Fleet requested $10.1 million for upkeep in 2023, nevertheless it solely acquired $3.3 million from Nigeria’s Nationwide Meeting. Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdullahi, PAF Commander, defined in a protection price range committee listening to that a number of components set his requested quantity. The common age of the fleet’s plane is 11 years, barely skewed youthful by two new helicopters delivered final 12 months. He reasoned that the older planes made upkeep dearer. Abdullahi famous that his unit can be anticipated to conduct extra missions than ordinary in 2023 as it’s an election 12 months in Nigeria.

Abdullahi additionally famous:

“The results of underfunding the fleet might have antagonistic results on security operations. It could additionally result in our nation being embarrassed within the worldwide neighborhood both by way of seizure of the PAF plane at overseas airports or upkeep amenities. Furthermore, different states could deny the PAF plane essential over-flight permits for overseas missions.

Punch NG talked about that Muhammadu Buhari, the President of Nigeria, had promised to cut back the scale of the Presidential Air Fleet. Over the eight years of Buhari’s presidency, the PAF’s price range has elevated by 121 %. With the Nigerian presidency being restricted to 2 four-year phrases, Buhari gained’t be operating for a 3rd time period. Additionally, a straightforward resolution to repay the debt and cut back the PAF’s dimension can be to promote out a number of the plane.