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Presidency Has Spent 5.8billion On Presidential Fleet by uprightman(m): 7:14am On Nov 14, 2015 |
The Federal Government may have
spent about N5.8bn on the 10-aircraft
Presidential Air Fleet it inherited from the
former President Goodluck Jonathan’s
administration, findings by Saturday
PUNCH have shown.
The PAF is the third largest fleet in the
country, coming after Arik Air and
Aerocontractors Airlines which have 23
and 12 aircraft in their fleets
respectively.
Other domestic airlines including
FirstNation, MedView Airlines, Dana Air,
Air Peace and Overland Airways have
less than 10 aircraft each in their fleets.
According to calculations done from
estimated data obtained from aviation
parastatals and domestic airline
operators in the country, President
Muhammadu Buhari’s administration
will have spent about $58.58m
(N11.598bn) on running and
maintaining the 10-aicraft presidential
fleet by May 29 next year when it turns
one year in office.
This means that the half of this amount,
$29.29m (N5.799bn), is expected to
have been spent in principle on the large
fleet when administration turns six
months in office by November 29.
According to findings, the PAF contains
two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets,
one Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737
BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle
One), and Gulfstream IVSP.
Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna
Citation 2 and Hawker Siddley 125-800
jet.
Each of the two Falcon 7X jets were
purchased in 2010 by the Federal
Government for $51.1m, while the
Gulfstream 550 costs $53.3m, a former
Minister of Information, the late
Professor, Dora Akunyili, had said.
The factory price of other aircraft in the
fleet could not be obtained online.
However, airline CEOs put the average
price of Falcon 900 at $35m, Gulfstream
IVSP at $40m, Gulfstream V at $45m,
Boeing 737-800 (Boeing Business Jet)
at $58m, Cessna Citation at $7m and
Hawker Siddley 125-800 at $15m.
This brings a combined estimated value
of Nigeria’s PAF to $390.5m
(N77.319bn).
According to airline chief executives and
industry experts, airlines spend between
15 and 20 per cent of the cost of an
aircraft on its operation yearly. They say
that averagely, a little less than one-fifth
of the cost of the plane is spent every
year on insurance, flight and cabin crew,
maintenance, fuelling, catering and
training.
Using the least figure of 15 per cent, it
means that about $58.58m
(N11.598bn) will be spent on the
presidential fleet (which is valued at
$390.5m or N77.319bn) when the new
administration turns one year by May 29
next year.
Apparently, by November 29 when it
turns six months in office, about half of
this amount ($29.29m or N5.799bn)
should have been budgeted for the
running and maintenance of the planes.
According to the Nigerian Air Force’s
website, the PAF’s current staff strength
consists of 47 NAF officers, 173 airmen/
airwomen and 96 technical and
administrative civilians.
“The operational headquarters of the
fleet is located at the presidential wing
of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja, while the administrative
personnel are at the federal secretariat.
The fleet has a liaison office at the
Presidential Villa. Flight operations,
training, aircraft maintenance and
general running of the fleet are funded
by the Presidency,” according to the
website.
Nigeria happens to be one of few
countries of the world with a large PAF.
Most major countries in Europe and
Asia maintain two aircraft in their PAF,
according to Wikipedia .
According to the online portal, Japan
maintains only two Boeing 747-400
planes in its PAF.
The two aircraft, mostly for the prime
minister, the emperor and his wife, and
other members of the Imperial Family, is
operated by the Japan Air Self-Defence
Force.
The aircraft were constructed at the
Boeing factory at the same time as the
United States’ Air Force One. Both
Japanese aircraft were delivered in
1990.
Wikipedia also states that the
Netherlands government operates only
two aircraft, a Fokker 70 and Gulfstream
IV to transport the Dutch Royal family
and government officials such as the
Prime Minister and other ministers.
They are also used for international
conferences and for private trips by the
Queen and the Prince of Orange. For
long haul trips, the Royal Dutch Airline is
used. Often the upper deck of a Boeing
747 is used.
The Queen of England and the Prime
Minister, David Cameron, often go on
British Airways chartered flights for long
trips. Cameron was recently criticised by
the United Kingdom media for chartering
a foreign plane instead of a British.
According to Wikipedia, the Royal
Squadron of the Royal Air Force
maintains a fleet of Agusta A109
helicopters, BAE-125 mid-sized business
jet and BAE-146 regional airliner to
support short travel by the Royal Family,
the Prime Minister and senior members
of the British Government.
Countries like Ghana, Algeria and a host
of others in Europe maintain only one
aircraft in their PAF.
A few weeks after his inauguration,
Buhari had reportedly ordered the
immediate disposal of some of the
planes in the PAF.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to
the President on Media and Publicity,
Garba Shehu, later denied knowledge of
such directive.
“The story of the order for the sale of
aircraft in the Presidential Fleet, about
which so much interest is being
expressed, is not known to us,” Shehu
said.
The exact size of the PAF is treated as
classified information and aviation
sources believe the aircraft in the fleet is
about 16.
Chief of the planes in the fleet is the
Boeing 738 BBJ, NAF 001 or Eagle One,
used by the president for his travels.
With its luxury configuration comprising
a master bedroom, washrooms and
showers, a conference and dinning area,
and a living area, the plane seats 25 to
50 passengers and would cost at least
$100m to replace.
Eagle One can spend 12 hours in the air,
covering 11,489 kilomtres or 6,200
nautical miles.
Apart from the Eagle One, the fleet
boasts of Gulfstream 550 jet. The
Gulfstream 550 can seat eight to 18
passengers, depending on the
configuration, and has a cruiser range of
12,501 kilometres or 6,750 nautical
miles.
There are reports that Buhari may also
order the sale of about 25 aircraft
owned by ministries, departments and
agencies.
These include Nigeria Customs Service,
which has four aircraft namely two Bell
helicopters, one Dornier 228 and one
Cessna Citation private jet; the Nigerian
Police Force, which has 10 helicopters
and one Cessna Sovereign private jet;
and the Nigeria Immigration Service,
which has six aircraft that are being
used for border patrol.
Others are the National Emergency
Management Agency, which has four
helicopters and one Cessna Encorprivate
jet; the Ministry of Aviation, which has a
Hawker Siddley calibration jet that is not
being used; and the defunct Power
Holding Company of Nigeria which has
six German-made helicopters that are no
longer serviceable.
Aviation experts said there was need for
Buhari to reduce the size of the PAF.
The General Secretary, Aviation Round
Table, an industry pressure group, Group
Captain John Ojikutu, said Buhari
needed to reduce the PAF and sell
aircraft belonging to most of the MDAs.
A former Assistant General Secretary,
Airline Operators of Nigeria, Mr.
Muhammed Tukur, also said the aircraft
could be sold to both airline operators
and private individuals who could use
them for commercial purposes.
He said that this could generate more
revenue and create jo |
Re: Presidency Has Spent 5.8billion On Presidential Fleet by Nobody: 7:20am On Nov 14, 2015 |
Source? |
Re: Presidency Has Spent 5.8billion On Presidential Fleet by psucc(m): 7:32am On Nov 14, 2015 |
Why now, did change not change that? |
(1) (Reply)
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