Amidst acute hunger biting the populace, the Nigerian federal government has insisted on purchasing a brand new presidential jet fleet, with the legislative committee recommending the acquisition of two additional new aircraft for the president and vice president. In this special feature, our correspondent,
Korede Abdullah analyses the fuss over the plans to acquire new jets for the president at a critical time millions of the citizens are struggling to find food due to the prevailing high cost of living.
Two New Jets for Tinubu and Shettima
The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence recently recommended the acquisition of two new aircraft for both President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima respectively.
Many Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the recommendation of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence which asked the Federal Government to purchase a new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
The decision to acquire the aircraft was contained in a report released after its investigation into the status of the aircraft in the presidential air fleet on June 14, 2024.
Tinubu Travelling on Private Airplane
It was reported in April that President Bola Tinubu resorted to a commercial aircraft on his way to the World Economic Forum in Riyadh Saudi Arabia, after the aircraft he travelled with to Netherlands developed a fault.
Around the same time, Vice-President Kashim Shettima was pictured arriving Ogun State in a chartered aircraft.
For his latest trip to South Africa for the second term inauguration of Cryl Ramaphosa, Tinubu also had to make use of a private airplane, a development some diplomatic experts said would present a bad image for Nigeria in the global stage.
The House Committee report read in part, “The committee is of the strong and informed opinion that, considering the fragile structure of the Nigerian federation and recognising the dire consequences of any foreseen or unforeseen mishap that may arise as a result of the technical or operational inadequacy of the presidential air fleet, it is in the best interest of the country to procure two additional aircraft as recommended.
“This will also prove to be most cost-efficient in the long run, apart from the added advantage of providing a suitable, comfortable, and safe carrier befitting of the status and responsibilities of the office of the president and vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The House resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Satomi Ahmed, Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
Sponsored Motion
The motion generated a heated debate on the floor of the House when it was moved. Some lawmakers suggested that the President should travel via commercial aircraft or by road.
The news of the proposal has continued to stir controversies and rankling discontent among the populace, especially, as the country is grappling with huge economic challenges, untold hardship and social issues like hunger and deficit housing.
Opposition
Critics of the decision who said they received the news with a jolt, said that it’s the height of insensitivity to the suffering of the Nigerian people. They argued that the funds to be allocated for a new aircraft could be better channelled towards addressing pressing social needs, such as poverty, healthcare, or education.
To underscore the level of hunger in the land, the United Nations recently listed Nigeria among the West African countries to benefit from the food aid. The UN stated that malnutrition has
reached extraordinary levels, with an estimated 17 million acutely malnourished children under five,
Nigeria in Grip of Acute Food Crisis
The world’s body regretfully lamented that Nigeria is among the poor countries “in the grips of a severe food security and nutrition crisis – with nearly 55 million people projected to face acute hunger during the June -August lean season.”
Among prominent Nigerians who have faulted the plan by the Federal Government to buy the new aircrafts for the presidential fleets was the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi. He described the move as insensitive while Nigerians grapple with economic hardship occasioned by the Federal Government’s policies.
In a swift reaction, the presidency, through the Special Adviser to the president on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, pooh-poohed Obi’s comment and described it as insensitive, wondering if he would rather have the life of the President jeopardised by flying a faulty aircraft.
Tinubu’s Aide, Onanuga
While speaking with The Punch, a Nigerian national daily, Onanuga said, “Does Peter Obi want the President dead? Is that his wish? Does he want him to continue moving around in a rickety plane and die like the VP of Malawi and Iran President? Let him tell us. This is a basic thing any sane government will do. You can’t toy with your President’s welfare.”
Onanuga asked why any right-thinking person would want the President to move around in a rickety aircraft purchased by President Obasanjo, over twenty years ago.
He added that it was the National Assembly that officially recommended that new aircrafts should be bought. “Sometimes, Peter Obi would just open his mouth to make unnecessary statements.”, the presidential spokesman said dismissively.
Another critical area the antagonists have picked holes in the idea of a new presidential aircraft is whether the proposed purchase is authorized through the normal legislative appropriation process. This raises the question of extra-budgetary spending and its implications for transparency, accountability, and fiscal management.
Economic Experts
Some economic experts who spoke with Africa Health Report opined that extra-budgetary spending can be a significant portion of government expenditures, especially in developing countries, and can be used for various purposes.
Among the purposes listed include funding specific projects or programmes, responding to emergencies or crises, supporting external organizations or initiatives, financing capital expenditures or investments, covering unexpected expenses.
Analysts’ Unanimous Vote
The analysts were all unanimous in their view that the issue of a new presidential aircraft doesn’t fall into the purview of an emergency that warrants an extra-budgetary allocation at a time an ordinary Nigerian is groaning under yoke of economic crisis and hardship.
With the rationalization by the lawmakers and the presidency, the question on the lips of many Nigerians is, why purchasing a new aircraft when the country is being blighted by unabated insecurity, widespread hunger, shortages of food items, surging prices and escalation of cholera epidemic in many states of the federation, instead of spending the lean resources to revamp the ailing economy?
