Budget for presidential aircraft for Buhari, Osinbajo doubles to N7.3 billion

Reactions have continued to trail the Federal Government proposal to spend N7.26 billion on the Presidential Air Fleet, PAF, in the 2018 budget proposal.

According to details by the Budget Office, about N4.3 billion of the amount was proposed for recurrent expenditure, while N2.8 billion is for capital expenditure.

The proposed expenditure is about 67 per cent higher than the N4.37 billion appropriation in the 2017 budget, which consisted of N3.97 billion for recurrent and N399.5 million for capital projects.

In the current proposal, which is subject to approval by National Assembly, at least N1.58 billion was set aside for the overhaul and maintenance of five aircraft in the fleet, from about N2.9 billion budgeted for capital expenditure.

Details showed that N200 million was proposed for the mandatory upgrade and installation of live TV and internet service on BBJ (5N-FGT), just as about N240 million was voted for a similar service on G550 (5N-FGW) during the year.

Equally, N375 million would be used for installation of new cabin management system on GV (5N-FGS); N196.5 million for overhaul of landing gear for BBJ aircraft and N222 million for overhaul of Falcon 7X (5N-FGV) aircraft engines.

About N3.89 billion was proposed for mandatory upgrades on fleet aircraft; general aircraft maintenance; aircraft fuel cost; purchase of air navigational equipment; rehabilitation/repairs of air navigational equipment and purchase of Towberless tow tractor for aircraft towing.

On assumption of office, President Muhamadu Buhari assured his administration would cut down on the number of aircraft on the fleet inherited from former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

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