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Off-loading The Presidential Fleet - Politics (3) - Nairaland

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FG Spends N5bn On Presidential Fleet In 15 Months / Buhari, Cut Cost, Discard Presidential Fleet - PUNCH / Off-loading The Presidential Fleet (2) (3) (4)

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Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Nobody: 9:49am On Apr 29, 2015
Once a Nigerian assumes control of money or power, he ignores others forgeting where he rose from..

1 Like

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by miqos02(m): 9:50am On Apr 29, 2015
buhari, you don' hear
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by FitnessNigeria: 9:52am On Apr 29, 2015
goofyone:
Counting on Buhari to sell off these planes

Sell it off for what? That it is called the presidential fleet doesn't mean is the president alone that uses it, those flights are used for daily running of Government. If a country has 10 presidential flight, the president might only be using 2 while other parastals of Government makes use of the remaining.
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Brugo(m): 9:54am On Apr 29, 2015
Dividends of the PDP and the Hero GEJ.

16 years of a Government of waste.

1 Like

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Nobody: 9:57am On Apr 29, 2015
Renting planes will surely save cost...

Sell all the planes joor...

The minister of petroleum spends so much on flying than even the president himself...sell every damn plane and lets move forward..

3 Likes

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by MrHighSea: 10:02am On Apr 29, 2015
Shit. Air force one aka aerial oval office as refurbished z costly than 5 of 9ja presido's air fleet excluding d Gulfstreams. BUY 1 wey mek sense, gadjet it n fly. Imagin GCFR flying cessna n siddly. Airmen complainin of underutilization, hmmm, thought dy shd b flying tomcats, falcons n f-22s.

1 Like

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Ohibenemma(m): 10:05am On Apr 29, 2015
Obvious wastefulness!!! Just like Amaechi's jet purchase and Oshiomhole's wanton use of chartered helicopters in a state they claim is too poor to fund some of her projects.

I love the fact that a new administration is coming in - to check some evils of the past, but the extent they can go in doing this still remains to be seen.

Many have pointed accusing fingers @ Jonathan's government only, but forget that he didn't purchase all ten. This doesn't excuse him from the wastefulness cos I think he purchased no less than three himself...

I look on and hope this deal (which I never supported and which I still view with pessimism) will favour us.
#Remembering Snowball and Napoleon of Animal Farm.

2 Likes

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by NobleG1(m): 10:05am On Apr 29, 2015
Nigerian government is the most expensive and useless in the world.

Nigerians are to blame for this. They sell their right and future over a bag of rice and tomato.

We've have "democracy" for 16 years now and nothing to show for it, except, fat bank accounts of the theives we called our "leaders"!

We still have bad roads, no pipe-borne water, no electricity, no security, no infrastructure, no accountability, no respect for rule of law, nothing! And yet billions of dollars of revenue hit the national coffers and disappear immediately. Some revenues are looted on route to the national coffers..

Lets see what Buhari will do.

1 Like

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Olufemiolaolu(m): 10:06am On Apr 29, 2015
This yeye govt is just too wasteful. Thank God 4 change ooooooo.
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Nobody: 10:06am On Apr 29, 2015
DeGenius3:


abeg no vex, where u from?

Namibia smiley
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Enosa1(m): 10:08am On Apr 29, 2015
Why not just keep one for presidential use,and use others to re-establish the nigeria airway.

1 Like

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Olufemiolaolu(m): 10:08am On Apr 29, 2015
DeGenius3:


abeg no vex, where u from?
Dont mind jare, naa orijo he dey use pass exams grin
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Ura: 10:15am On Apr 29, 2015
I hope that Nigerians have learnt their lesson well. I hope we will never ever make the mistake of of voting self centered and wicked people into government again. We will work and then pay tax, after which some heediots who call themselves out leaders will take those monies and spend them as they like. It will never be well with them. That is why they suffer from incurable diseases and penury. The worst part of it all is the capital heediot and liability of a president that Nigeria was saddled with for so many years and because God has finally given us relief from him and his shepopotamus, he is busy sacking people that did not give room for elections to be rigged. Buhari has a lot of work to do. If I hear that that wicked man escapes being prosecuted for sacking people unjustly, then I will consider Buhari to be a more wicked, selfish and evil promoting leader than him.
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by obailala(m): 10:19am On Apr 29, 2015
MrIncrediible:


and some people wanted this to continue??
They say it is the will of God for the senseless waste to continue (because it has always been our culture)... and then I ask, which God? angry

1 Like

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by nelandrewz(m): 10:22am On Apr 29, 2015
FitnessNigeria:


Sell it off for what? That it is called the presidential fleet doesn't mean is the president alone that uses it, those flights are used for daily running of Government. If a country has 10 presidential flight, the president might only be using 2 while other parastals of Government makes use of the remaining.
Have you heard of countries that have far less or even leases jets for daily running of govt and are far better than Nigeria? Don't defend waste in govt. Thay should be sold and the money should be used for development which you will benefit from.

1 Like

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by 989900: 10:24am On Apr 29, 2015
nelandrewz:
Have you heard of countries that have far less or even leases jets for daily running of govt and are far better than Nigeria? Don't defend waste in govt. Thay should be sold and the money should be used for development which you will benefit from.

You'r wasting your time with a blockhead.
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Ura: 10:25am On Apr 29, 2015
FitnessNigeria:


Sell it off for what? That it is called the presidential fleet doesn't mean is the president alone that uses it, those flights are used for daily running of Government. If a country has 10 presidential flight, the president might only be using 2 while other parastals of Government makes use of the remaining.

Abeg, tell us which government activites need aircraft for daily running. Even the president does not need two. Do we vote them to be flying about or to stay put and oversee the affairs of the country? What are the functions of his ambassadors and ministers? Abeg, you have no reason to support thieves who are trying to constitutionalize stealing. Except if you also believe that "stealing is not corruption" angry.

2 Likes

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by appini: 10:30am On Apr 29, 2015
Baba one chance can sell everything... after all he can be flying around with his cows.
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by EmmyDe25(m): 10:30am On Apr 29, 2015
This Hellish government is just damn wasteful! Thank God we made the right decision on March 28th. Nigeria would have been a piss-poor in four years time.
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Nobody: 10:39am On Apr 29, 2015
naijainfogalery:
Its only a visionless and clueless Government that spends the yearly allocation of 5 states to maintain Aircraft.

That means the money they used in maintaining this aircraft will
- Build all the roads in Some states
- Provide water
- Create more jobs

But instead we choose to use it to maintain planes. I wont be surprised if Buhari sell everything and rent planes for his official travels
Are you sure you really know what you are saying? Read the article again and do your arithmetics again.
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by kings09(m): 10:41am On Apr 29, 2015
I told sum1 dat thr z sumtin wrong wit dis country. Nigeria's history needs 2 be re-checked n see whoever dat placed a curse on it. Wch leader in all sensibilities wld live in luxury while his followers r impoverished. Then who r u leading?. D whole tin jst doesn't mke sense.
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Matttthew(m): 10:41am On Apr 29, 2015
sinizia:


Only in Nigeria that the Nigerian Presidential Air fleet is being maintained by over 10 billion Naira budget yearly, while poor states like Osun, Gombe, Ebonyi, Ekiti get less than two billion Naira every month from the Federal Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission as allocation.

Only in Nigeria will the President eat over ₦1 billion worth of food. Purchase over ₦500 million worth of newspaper. Senators have over ₦1 billion designated for their allowances. Only in Nigeria will Stella Oduah buy over ₦300 million worth of bulletproof cars. She be terrorist? What's with the protection? Is she the President? Is she a Governor? Only in Nigeria will that demon T.A Orji rule Abia for 8 years without building a single toilet and still rig his way to Senate. What a doomed country. undecided



When will you get sense? sadsad
when u grow urs.....? undecided
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by xtervaganza(m): 10:44am On Apr 29, 2015
Amd then some idiots will open their gutter mouth and ask why people with common sense hated Jonathan and voted hin out

1 Like

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by dammytosh: 10:47am On Apr 29, 2015
Reasonable and objective Write up.

Unlike some ee-diots still campaigning for Jonathan after election. I guess that is the criteria for them not returning the money they collected before the election.

1 Like 1 Share

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Nobody: 10:51am On Apr 29, 2015
Kaybaba5:
UNTIL 1999, the presidential fleet was under the control and supervision of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Before 1999, senior Air Force officers in their grey upon blue well-ironed uniforms were seen on the 11th floor of Federal Secretariat, which was then the office of the SGF, hanging around. But in June 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo transferred the fleet to be part of the schedule of the Chief of Staff to the President.

The argument was that the Chief of Staff, being conversant with the President’s itinerary, is in a better position to control the fleet adequately. I understand that the fleet is now under my friend, Col. Sabo Dasuki (rtd.), the National Security Adviser (NSA) whose loyalty and patriotism are never in doubt. Before 1999, the fleet was almost dormant for lack of use.

General Ibrahim Babangida (72) hardly travels outside the country, except to visit some states and Chief Ernest Oladeinde Adegunle Shonekan (79) whose tenure lasted less than 100 days, made use of the fleet only once when he attended the Commonwealth conference outside Nigeria. The second time he used the fleet was when he was overthrown and brought down to Lagos in company of Chief Dapo Sarumi.

General Sani Abacha hardly travelled outside Abuja, in fact during his era, pilots attached to the presidential fleet complained of under-utilisation, raising fears that they might lose their licences for not flying enough. In 1997, he made only five trips outside Abuja; in 1998, he made three trips, the fourth would have taken him to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso on June 8, 1998 for the African Union Conference, the very day that he died.

General Abdusalam Abubakar, who spent less than 11 months in office, was too busy with his transition programme that he hardly travelled. He made four trips during his era, two to Niger Delta to inspect the oil spillage in that area. As for President Olusegun Okikiola Obasanjo, the Jagunmolu of Egbaland, he was a flying President. Even till today, when the presidential fleet is outside his control, he is still flying around the world. He loves to fly. That is the way he is. And the pilots attached to the presidential fleet loved him for that.

The presidential fleet still remains today the most important posting in the Nigerian Air Force. For example, the present Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Sabundu Badeh, was a product of the Presidential Fleet, as he flew former Vice President Atiku Abubakar between 1999 and 2007 severally. Even the present Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayun Amosu, was a product of the Presidential Air Fleet too. The Fleet has one of the largest aircraft in the world in comparison to other countries.

The British Prime Minister has no presidential aircraft. Members of the British government charter either British Airways or Virgin Atlantic most times. The government of Tunisia operates a Boeing 737 BBJ. An Airbus A340-500 has also been purchased and VIP-configured, but was never used for travel and has been stored since the 2011 revolution that ousted former dictator, Ben Ali. The Tunisian government is reportedly trying to sell both aircraft.

The government of Algeria operates an Airbus A340-500.
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong travels on commercial aircraft, usually operated by Cathay Pacific. He travels with helicopters operated by the Government Flying Service.
The Ivoirien government uses a Gulf IV as a VIP aircraft. A government Boeing 727-200WGL is also in service.

The State of Israel does not currently possess a specific jet for use of its Head of State. Wherever the current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flies long distances (out of the country), the government leases an airliner from the state airline, El Al. Meanwhile, the President, Reuvin Rivlin, and other high-ranking dignitaries are relegated to El Al first class commercial service. As of 2014, the Knesset is considering the purchase of such an airplane dubbed ‘Israeli Air Force One’.

Kenya’s President has a Fokker 70 for use as the presidential jet. Fokker executive plane was purchased at a cost of $50 million. The 70-seater jet was reconfigured into telecommunications facilities. Prior to the purchase of the Fokker, the Kenya President primarily used Airways for his international travel.

The Saudi Arabian Royal Flight operates a Boeing 747-300 and a Boeing 747-400 for use by the King of Saudi Arabia.
The President, Prime Minister of Singapore and government officials typically travel on regular scheduled commercial flights run by Singapore Airlines. However, on rare occasions or short trips, government officials may travel on one of the few passenger-configured Fokker-50 operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

The President of South Africa travels in a Boeing 737 (BBJ) operated by the South African Air Force’s 21 Squadron, which is based at AFB Waterkloof near Pretoria; the executive capital, i.e. the seat of the executive branch of the South African government.

The 21 Squadron also operates a fleet of two Falcon 50 and a Falcon 900B Fleet, 550/1 Citation 2, and a Global Express XRS is hired to escort the President on long flights as a back-up aircraft. The Falcon 900 is normally used by the Deputy President and high-ranking cabinet ministers.

The President of Zimbabwe travels in a charted Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767-200ER aircraft, which is part of the national airline’s fleet. Occasionally, the President will share the plane with commercial passengers on scheduled flights.
The Tanzania Government Flight Agency operates a Gulfstream G550 for VIP transports. There are two other VIP aircraft – a Fokker F-50 and F-28 for internal and regional destinations as well.

The President of Ghana flies on a Falcon EX 900 jet. The Botswana Defence Force operated a Gulfstream IV transport, but has since been sold and the Botswana Defence Force now operates a Global Express OK1. The government of Burkina Faso uses a special Boeing 727. A Falcon 900 has been added, and it is the type frequently in use now.

The Egyptian government operates an Airbus A340-200 as a VIP transport. The first presidential airplane was given as a gift from Saudi Arabia to Egypt.

The Pope is one of the richest and famous men on earth. He is the Head of the Catholic Church that has followership all over the world. Typically, the Pope flies on a chartered Alitalia fixed-wing aircraft when travelling to or from more distant destinations. Traditional protocol dictates that a Pope flies to a country he is visiting on a chartered Alitalia jet and to return on a jet belonging to a flag carrier from the visited nation; this may vary when he is touring multiple nations.

The Nigerian Presidential Air fleet is being maintained by over 10 billion Naira budget yearly. Poor states like Osun, Gombe, Ebonyi, Ekiti get less than two billion Naira every month from the Federal Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission as allocation. The presidential fleet is the third largest aircraft fleet in the country, coming behind Arik, which has 22, and Aero Contractors, which has 14. The Presidential Air fleet has 10 aircraft. They include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, Gulfstream 550,one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), Gulfstream IVSP.
Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawk Siddley 125-800 jet.

Each of the two Falcon 7X jets purchased in 2010 cost $51.1m, while the Gulfstream 550 costs $53.3m. However, airline CEOs put the average price of Falcon 900 at $35m, Gulfstream IVSP at $40m, Gulfstream V at $45m, Boeing 737 BBJ at $58m; Cessna Citation is $7m and Hawker Siddley 125-800 at $125-800 at $15m.

The question before us is, can we maintain the Presidential Air fleet in the face of our dwindling economy? The answer is no. The alternative is to sell some of the aircraft so as to reduce cost. It is even cheaper to charter planes for some of our top officials than to maintain the Presidential Air fleet as it is now.

The other angle is to let the Nigerian Air Force face other challenges, instead of the present rivalry among senior officers over postings to the presidential air fleet. I think we have many projects to tackle, besides the temporary comfort of our leaders. All these are for the consideration of the in-coming government of Major-General (rtd.) Muhammadu Buhari.

In his Essays of Innovation, Francis Bacon wrote: “And he that will not apply New Remedies must expect New evil; for time is the greatest innovator.”


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/04/off-loading-the-presidential-fleet/

Guy,..... I dof my hat for you. Your thread is the most sensible thread I have seen on Nairaland post March 28. Thank you for yor incisive research,.....dou I think we have 11 aeroplanes in our presidential fleet (I could be wrong) , with plans to buy yet another in the 2015 budget!
I have always maintained, that if GMB doesn't sell off these luxury toys within 2 months in office then he isn't better than d wasteful and clueless gej. Or keep only 2,and sell off the rest.
Truth is, our president can make do with commercial flights. Recently, Doyin Okupe said naija can't afford new trains because we aint America, yet we have a fleet of aeroplanes for the President's use that dwarfs at least 4 times what the President of America has.

3 Likes

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Awoofawo(m): 10:52am On Apr 29, 2015
Make dem convert efrytin to national carrier oh jare.....

Who wan fly on gulfstream jet go AbuJ.....?

It is serious shame that a country that don't has a national carrier that government can maintained such a huge fleet of aircrafts for presidential uses.....
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by FOREXMARTS: 10:59am On Apr 29, 2015
Kaybaba5:
UNTIL 1999, the presidential fleet was under the control and supervision of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Before 1999, senior Air Force officers in their grey upon blue well-ironed uniforms were seen on the 11th floor of Federal Secretariat, which was then the office of the SGF, hanging around. But in June 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo transferred the fleet to be part of the schedule of the Chief of Staff to the President.

The argument was that the Chief of Staff, being conversant with the President’s itinerary, is in a better position to control the fleet adequately. I understand that the fleet is now under my friend, Col. Sabo Dasuki (rtd.), the National Security Adviser (NSA) whose loyalty and patriotism are never in doubt. Before 1999, the fleet was almost dormant for lack of use.

General Ibrahim Babangida (72) hardly travels outside the country, except to visit some states and Chief Ernest Oladeinde Adegunle Shonekan (79) whose tenure lasted less than 100 days, made use of the fleet only once when he attended the Commonwealth conference outside Nigeria. The second time he used the fleet was when he was overthrown and brought down to Lagos in company of Chief Dapo Sarumi.

General Sani Abacha hardly travelled outside Abuja, in fact during his era, pilots attached to the presidential fleet complained of under-utilisation, raising fears that they might lose their licences for not flying enough. In 1997, he made only five trips outside Abuja; in 1998, he made three trips, the fourth would have taken him to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso on June 8, 1998 for the African Union Conference, the very day that he died.

General Abdusalam Abubakar, who spent less than 11 months in office, was too busy with his transition programme that he hardly travelled. He made four trips during his era, two to Niger Delta to inspect the oil spillage in that area. As for President Olusegun Okikiola Obasanjo, the Jagunmolu of Egbaland, he was a flying President. Even till today, when the presidential fleet is outside his control, he is still flying around the world. He loves to fly. That is the way he is. And the pilots attached to the presidential fleet loved him for that.

The presidential fleet still remains today the most important posting in the Nigerian Air Force. For example, the present Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Sabundu Badeh, was a product of the Presidential Fleet, as he flew former Vice President Atiku Abubakar between 1999 and 2007 severally. Even the present Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayun Amosu, was a product of the Presidential Air Fleet too. The Fleet has one of the largest aircraft in the world in comparison to other countries.

The British Prime Minister has no presidential aircraft. Members of the British government charter either British Airways or Virgin Atlantic most times. The government of Tunisia operates a Boeing 737 BBJ. An Airbus A340-500 has also been purchased and VIP-configured, but was never used for travel and has been stored since the 2011 revolution that ousted former dictator, Ben Ali. The Tunisian government is reportedly trying to sell both aircraft.

The government of Algeria operates an Airbus A340-500.
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong travels on commercial aircraft, usually operated by Cathay Pacific. He travels with helicopters operated by the Government Flying Service.
The Ivoirien government uses a Gulf IV as a VIP aircraft. A government Boeing 727-200WGL is also in service.

The State of Israel does not currently possess a specific jet for use of its Head of State. Wherever the current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flies long distances (out of the country), the government leases an airliner from the state airline, El Al. Meanwhile, the President, Reuvin Rivlin, and other high-ranking dignitaries are relegated to El Al first class commercial service. As of 2014, the Knesset is considering the purchase of such an airplane dubbed ‘Israeli Air Force One’.

Kenya’s President has a Fokker 70 for use as the presidential jet. Fokker executive plane was purchased at a cost of $50 million. The 70-seater jet was reconfigured into telecommunications facilities. Prior to the purchase of the Fokker, the Kenya President primarily used Airways for his international travel.

The Saudi Arabian Royal Flight operates a Boeing 747-300 and a Boeing 747-400 for use by the King of Saudi Arabia.
The President, Prime Minister of Singapore and government officials typically travel on regular scheduled commercial flights run by Singapore Airlines. However, on rare occasions or short trips, government officials may travel on one of the few passenger-configured Fokker-50 operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

The President of South Africa travels in a Boeing 737 (BBJ) operated by the South African Air Force’s 21 Squadron, which is based at AFB Waterkloof near Pretoria; the executive capital, i.e. the seat of the executive branch of the South African government.

The 21 Squadron also operates a fleet of two Falcon 50 and a Falcon 900B Fleet, 550/1 Citation 2, and a Global Express XRS is hired to escort the President on long flights as a back-up aircraft. The Falcon 900 is normally used by the Deputy President and high-ranking cabinet ministers.

The President of Zimbabwe travels in a charted Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767-200ER aircraft, which is part of the national airline’s fleet. Occasionally, the President will share the plane with commercial passengers on scheduled flights.
The Tanzania Government Flight Agency operates a Gulfstream G550 for VIP transports. There are two other VIP aircraft – a Fokker F-50 and F-28 for internal and regional destinations as well.

The President of Ghana flies on a Falcon EX 900 jet. The Botswana Defence Force operated a Gulfstream IV transport, but has since been sold and the Botswana Defence Force now operates a Global Express OK1. The government of Burkina Faso uses a special Boeing 727. A Falcon 900 has been added, and it is the type frequently in use now.

The Egyptian government operates an Airbus A340-200 as a VIP transport. The first presidential airplane was given as a gift from Saudi Arabia to Egypt.

The Pope is one of the richest and famous men on earth. He is the Head of the Catholic Church that has followership all over the world. Typically, the Pope flies on a chartered Alitalia fixed-wing aircraft when travelling to or from more distant destinations. Traditional protocol dictates that a Pope flies to a country he is visiting on a chartered Alitalia jet and to return on a jet belonging to a flag carrier from the visited nation; this may vary when he is touring multiple nations.

The Nigerian Presidential Air fleet is being maintained by over 10 billion Naira budget yearly. Poor states like Osun, Gombe, Ebonyi, Ekiti get less than two billion Naira every month from the Federal Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission as allocation. The presidential fleet is the third largest aircraft fleet in the country, coming behind Arik, which has 22, and Aero Contractors, which has 14. The Presidential Air fleet has 10 aircraft. They include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, Gulfstream 550,one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), Gulfstream IVSP.
Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawk Siddley 125-800 jet.

Each of the two Falcon 7X jets purchased in 2010 cost $51.1m, while the Gulfstream 550 costs $53.3m. However, airline CEOs put the average price of Falcon 900 at $35m, Gulfstream IVSP at $40m, Gulfstream V at $45m, Boeing 737 BBJ at $58m; Cessna Citation is $7m and Hawker Siddley 125-800 at $125-800 at $15m.

The question before us is, can we maintain the Presidential Air fleet in the face of our dwindling economy? The answer is no. The alternative is to sell some of the aircraft so as to reduce cost. It is even cheaper to charter planes for some of our top officials than to maintain the Presidential Air fleet as it is now.

The other angle is to let the Nigerian Air Force face other challenges, instead of the present rivalry among senior officers over postings to the presidential air fleet. I think we have many projects to tackle, besides the temporary comfort of our leaders. All these are for the consideration of the in-coming government of Major-General (rtd.) Muhammadu Buhari.

In his Essays of Innovation, Francis Bacon wrote: “And he that will not apply New Remedies must expect New evil; for time is the greatest innovator.”


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/04/off-loading-the-presidential-fleet/

Where is NANS president?
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by nelandrewz(m): 11:05am On Apr 29, 2015
Common sense they say is not common, other countries has money to buy and maintain these jets but they opted for leases and maintaining just one or two other jets. Nigeria since 1999 has 10 presidential fleets while d pple are dying in poverty and som1 still supports this govt 4 anoda term in office? Who do una this kind thing? I'll pray 4 u, have SENSE!!

2 Likes

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by nkemdi89(f): 11:10am On Apr 29, 2015
Imanuelle:
Error 324: Article too long
I wonder how most of you manage to pass your exams or even graduate, what's long about the article? How many minutes will it take you to read such an interesting article? But when it comes to virginityor sexual topics from tosyne2much you are ready to bend your head and read it line by line.

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Babatea07(m): 11:13am On Apr 29, 2015
Am sure our President-elect would not need all this resource wasting elements in his own government.
Kaybaba5:
UNTIL 1999, the presidential fleet was under the control and supervision of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Before 1999, senior Air Force officers in their grey upon blue well-ironed uniforms were seen on the 11th floor of Federal Secretariat, which was then the office of the SGF, hanging around. But in June 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo transferred the fleet to be part of the schedule of the Chief of Staff to the President.

The argument was that the Chief of Staff, being conversant with the President’s itinerary, is in a better position to control the fleet adequately. I understand that the fleet is now under my friend, Col. Sabo Dasuki (rtd.), the National Security Adviser (NSA) whose loyalty and patriotism are never in doubt. Before 1999, the fleet was almost dormant for lack of use.

General Ibrahim Babangida (72) hardly travels outside the country, except to visit some states and Chief Ernest Oladeinde Adegunle Shonekan (79) whose tenure lasted less than 100 days, made use of the fleet only once when he attended the Commonwealth conference outside Nigeria. The second time he used the fleet was when he was overthrown and brought down to Lagos in company of Chief Dapo Sarumi.

General Sani Abacha hardly travelled outside Abuja, in fact during his era, pilots attached to the presidential fleet complained of under-utilisation, raising fears that they might lose their licences for not flying enough. In 1997, he made only five trips outside Abuja; in 1998, he made three trips, the fourth would have taken him to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso on June 8, 1998 for the African Union Conference, the very day that he died.

General Abdusalam Abubakar, who spent less than 11 months in office, was too busy with his transition programme that he hardly travelled. He made four trips during his era, two to Niger Delta to inspect the oil spillage in that area. As for President Olusegun Okikiola Obasanjo, the Jagunmolu of Egbaland, he was a flying President. Even till today, when the presidential fleet is outside his control, he is still flying around the world. He loves to fly. That is the way he is. And the pilots attached to the presidential fleet loved him for that.

The presidential fleet still remains today the most important posting in the Nigerian Air Force. For example, the present Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Sabundu Badeh, was a product of the Presidential Fleet, as he flew former Vice President Atiku Abubakar between 1999 and 2007 severally. Even the present Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayun Amosu, was a product of the Presidential Air Fleet too. The Fleet has one of the largest aircraft in the world in comparison to other countries.

The British Prime Minister has no presidential aircraft. Members of the British government charter either British Airways or Virgin Atlantic most times. The government of Tunisia operates a Boeing 737 BBJ. An Airbus A340-500 has also been purchased and VIP-configured, but was never used for travel and has been stored since the 2011 revolution that ousted former dictator, Ben Ali. The Tunisian government is reportedly trying to sell both aircraft.

The government of Algeria operates an Airbus A340-500.
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong travels on commercial aircraft, usually operated by Cathay Pacific. He travels with helicopters operated by the Government Flying Service.
The Ivoirien government uses a Gulf IV as a VIP aircraft. A government Boeing 727-200WGL is also in service.

The State of Israel does not currently possess a specific jet for use of its Head of State. Wherever the current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flies long distances (out of the country), the government leases an airliner from the state airline, El Al. Meanwhile, the President, Reuvin Rivlin, and other high-ranking dignitaries are relegated to El Al first class commercial service. As of 2014, the Knesset is considering the purchase of such an airplane dubbed ‘Israeli Air Force One’.

Kenya’s President has a Fokker 70 for use as the presidential jet. Fokker executive plane was purchased at a cost of $50 million. The 70-seater jet was reconfigured into telecommunications facilities. Prior to the purchase of the Fokker, the Kenya President primarily used Airways for his international travel.

The Saudi Arabian Royal Flight operates a Boeing 747-300 and a Boeing 747-400 for use by the King of Saudi Arabia.
The President, Prime Minister of Singapore and government officials typically travel on regular scheduled commercial flights run by Singapore Airlines. However, on rare occasions or short trips, government officials may travel on one of the few passenger-configured Fokker-50 operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

The President of South Africa travels in a Boeing 737 (BBJ) operated by the South African Air Force’s 21 Squadron, which is based at AFB Waterkloof near Pretoria; the executive capital, i.e. the seat of the executive branch of the South African government.

The 21 Squadron also operates a fleet of two Falcon 50 and a Falcon 900B Fleet, 550/1 Citation 2, and a Global Express XRS is hired to escort the President on long flights as a back-up aircraft. The Falcon 900 is normally used by the Deputy President and high-ranking cabinet ministers.

The President of Zimbabwe travels in a charted Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767-200ER aircraft, which is part of the national airline’s fleet. Occasionally, the President will share the plane with commercial passengers on scheduled flights.
The Tanzania Government Flight Agency operates a Gulfstream G550 for VIP transports. There are two other VIP aircraft – a Fokker F-50 and F-28 for internal and regional destinations as well.

The President of Ghana flies on a Falcon EX 900 jet. The Botswana Defence Force operated a Gulfstream IV transport, but has since been sold and the Botswana Defence Force now operates a Global Express OK1. The government of Burkina Faso uses a special Boeing 727. A Falcon 900 has been added, and it is the type frequently in use now.

The Egyptian government operates an Airbus A340-200 as a VIP transport. The first presidential airplane was given as a gift from Saudi Arabia to Egypt.

The Pope is one of the richest and famous men on earth. He is the Head of the Catholic Church that has followership all over the world. Typically, the Pope flies on a chartered Alitalia fixed-wing aircraft when travelling to or from more distant destinations. Traditional protocol dictates that a Pope flies to a country he is visiting on a chartered Alitalia jet and to return on a jet belonging to a flag carrier from the visited nation; this may vary when he is touring multiple nations.

The Nigerian Presidential Air fleet is being maintained by over 10 billion Naira budget yearly. Poor states like Osun, Gombe, Ebonyi, Ekiti get less than two billion Naira every month from the Federal Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission as allocation. The presidential fleet is the third largest aircraft fleet in the country, coming behind Arik, which has 22, and Aero Contractors, which has 14. The Presidential Air fleet has 10 aircraft. They include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, Gulfstream 550,one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), Gulfstream IVSP.
Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawk Siddley 125-800 jet.

Each of the two Falcon 7X jets purchased in 2010 cost $51.1m, while the Gulfstream 550 costs $53.3m. However, airline CEOs put the average price of Falcon 900 at $35m, Gulfstream IVSP at $40m, Gulfstream V at $45m, Boeing 737 BBJ at $58m; Cessna Citation is $7m and Hawker Siddley 125-800 at $125-800 at $15m.

The question before us is, can we maintain the Presidential Air fleet in the face of our dwindling economy? The answer is no. The alternative is to sell some of the aircraft so as to reduce cost. It is even cheaper to charter planes for some of our top officials than to maintain the Presidential Air fleet as it is now.

The other angle is to let the Nigerian Air Force face other challenges, instead of the present rivalry among senior officers over postings to the presidential air fleet. I think we have many projects to tackle, besides the temporary comfort of our leaders. All these are for the consideration of the in-coming government of Major-General (rtd.) Muhammadu Buhari.

In his Essays of Innovation, Francis Bacon wrote: “And he that will not apply New Remedies must expect New evil; for time is the greatest innovator.”


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/04/off-loading-the-presidential-fleet/
Re: Off-loading The Presidential Fleet by Nobody: 11:17am On Apr 29, 2015
nkemdi89:

I wonder how most of you manage to pass your exams or even graduate, what's long about the article? How many minutes will it take you to read such an interesting article? But when it comes to virginityor sexual topics from tosyne2much you are ready to bend your head and read it line by line.


Is this a school?

Isn't this a typical Nigerian write-up?

Please stop deceiving yourself, reading this through would not add a penny to my account.

I read better and profitable things.

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