Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has clarified that the Federal Government did not purchase a new official jet for President Bola Tinubu, countering social media claims. Speaking on Channels Television's "Inside Sources,"
Onanuga explained that the government acquired a refurbished aircraft for the president, which is part of the existing presidential fleet.
He added that several jets bought during former President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration are now in poor condition, with maintenance costs becoming excessively high, prompting the need for a refurbished plane.
He added that instead of spending a lot of money on aircraft maintenance, the President sought the approval of the National Assembly for a refurbished jet that was still in good condition.
Onanuga said the refurbished Airbus A330 would save Nigeria high maintenance costs in servicing the old aircraft.
He said, “The president did not buy a new jet; what he has is a refurbished jet—it was used by somebody else before he got it, but it is a much newer model than the one President Buhari used. The one President Buhari used was bought by President Obasanjo some 20 years ago.
“There was a time when the President went to Saudi Arabia, and that plane developed some problems. The President had to leave with a chartered jet to the Netherlands. It’s not President Tinubu’s plane. It belongs to the people of Nigeria. It is our property.”