The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has acquired a new aircraft for N4 billion ($28 million).
The aircraft, a Gulfstream 4XP, with number 707EA, arrived Lagos from Bahamas last Sunday.
Industry insiders said the Gulfstream 4XP is a transatlantic aircraft that has the capacity of about 15 passengers depending on the configuration.
The church acquired the aircraft years after the General Overseer of Living Faith Worldwide, a.k.a. Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, acquired a Challenger aircraft, with number D6640, which was parked a few meters away from Adeboye’s Gulfstream when THISDAY visited the airside of General Aviation Terminal (GAT) yesterday.
A pilot told THISDAY that the aircraft and many others privately owned by Nigerians are not registered with Nigerian code “N” because “they usually say that they chattered it for a while whenever they are questioned. You know Bishop Oyedepo of Winners has been operating this aircraft (pointing to the Challenger) for sometime, but it has remained in foreign registration number.”
THIDAY also learnt that Oyedepo has ordered for another aircraft bigger than the one acquired by Adeboye.
By 2.00 pm yesterday, officials who looked like engineers were seen inspecting the aircraft, which was allowed to rev for hours.
Besides buying the aircraft, a lot of money would be spent in maintaining it and paying the crew, in addition to the landing and parking charges.
Unlike a commercial aircraft which is always in the air, the private jet will spend more time on the ground and must be checked before taking off.
An aeronautical engineer with one of the airlines said besides the mandatory checks, much money would not be spent on its maintenance for now “because it is a new aircraft, but you know that there are rotables which are time-bound parts which are changed regularly.
“The same with refitting parts. These are parts that are changed after every 12 or 15 calendar months whether you are flying or not. So, acquiring a private aircraft means that you are ready to be spending money to keep it going.”
Expressing surprise on the purchase, a former official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who craved anonymity, said with the present global economic recession, it was shocking that anyone, even a business man could spend such money on a private aircraft.
He said: “This is unbelievable. You know the amount of poverty in this land, which I know is widespread. How can he acquire such aircraft when he knows that members of his church are suffering?
“Look, even the Pope does not have a private jet. I am a Catholic. It is true that Catholic is the richest church in the world in terms of artefacts but the Pope flies Alitalia. How can the Pope tell the church that he wants a private jet?”

In the face of the global economic depression, does this really make sense?

well spending is what the recession needs. add a source next time

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=137736

low cost housing project costing $28 million would have gone a long way in improving the quality of life of it`s congregation, but as always in Africa, the leaders only think of themselves.

If i talk anything for here now dem go say lagosboy own too much. kai 4 billion naira !!!! for 1 jet , Glory be to God!!!

Haha, I love these threads.
The wars between the pastor bashers and the pastor backers.
Me na basher side I dey o.

But I go talk on the half of the backers. Cos I know their mentality.

Do you expect the church to build houses and tar roads. That is the work of the government. Church is not government.
Don't speak ill of men of God, it is a sin against the holy spirit. It is unforgivable.

look at all you hypocrites and people pleasers, what is wrong if the baba feels he needs an aircraft, and buys one? is it your money? did he come to you and ask for a loan to buy the aircraft? abi did he defraud your father? Why would you always behave like Nigerians? the people in government that are stealing you money and amassing wealth in foreign accounts what are you all doing about it. go to saharareporters.com and see what they are using your money for and you are here criticizing the pastor, make the thing dey una left mind jare, o you generation of beefers, if u no like am, jump into the transformer and romance it,

@mikesleek
u can`t be serious.
Church money is public money just like State money. If it`s wrong for government officials to buy a plane for themselves with the Nation`s money then it must surely be wrong for so called men of god to use church funds for the same shit. Church money should be used for the good of everyone not for Pastors to live like medieval kings. Low cost housing development for church members, would have gone a long way in making their lives better. We must all contribute to the development of the country and that includes churches, we can`t leave it all to the Government.

i watched on program on tv about the re-branding nigeria, nd one of the people sed we have to re-brand nigerians mentlity first b4 re-branding the country it self, the way nigerians think its obsurd, nigerians cannot see their fellow brother do some thing good without critising him ot her, dey react to every little thingg, The man never bought the jet with the church money, it was a group of people that bought the gulfstream jet for him, 1 kobo did not go out of the church moneyyy, if ya'll want onee, see ye first the kingdom of god den all odrr things wud follow.

The time for the church to Manifest is here. When the world is saying there is a casting down, then we will say there is a lifting.

Why all these envying? Isaac was so blessed by keeping to the covenants and the Philistines envied him.

If you are jealous of these men of God, then do what they do and you too will see result!

benzino007:

The time for the church to Manifest is here. When the world is saying there is a casting down, then we will say there is a lifting.

Why all these envying? Isaac was so blessed by keeping to the covenants and the Philistines envied him.

If you are jealous of these men of God, then do what they do and you too will see result!

You mean we should also start deceiving people to part with their money in the name of God.

mikesleek:

look at all you hypocrites and people pleasers, what is wrong if the baba feels he needs an aircraft, and buys one? is it your money? did he come to you and ask for a loan to buy the aircraft? abi did he defraud your father? Why would you always behave like Nigerians? the people in government that are stealing you money and amassing wealth in foreign accounts what are you all doing about it. go to saharareporters.com and see what they are using your money for and you are here criticizing the pastor, make the thing dey una left mind jare, o you generation of beefers, if u no like am, jump into the transformer and romance it,

what is wrong with behaving like a nigerian
if you have problem with nigerians then i reckon you solve it
dont come to nigeria land nairaland and start making crab comment about acting like nigeria
silly

For your information The church bought it rather too late. Anyway the word of God has been fulfilled here;

1Co 1:27 But God made selection of the foolish things of this world so that he might put the wise to shame; and the feeble things that he might put to shame the strong;
(BBE)
shame to all who feel the true men of God shouldnt have the good things