In a recent development, the Presidency has rolled out the new Airbus A330, acquired under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, shared images of the aircraft on Monday, noting that it replaces the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) purchased during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s term. Although Onanuga did not disclose the purchase price, he mentioned that the new jet was acquired at a price well below the market value.
He explained that the new aircraft will result in substantial savings for Nigeria, with millions of dollars expected to be saved annually in maintenance and fuel costs. “The decision to replace the B737-700(BBJ) followed an investigative hearing by Nigeria’s parliament, which questioned the plane’s safety record and cost efficiency, especially after it malfunctioned during a trip to Saudi Arabia,” Onanuga explained.
He added that the Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended the replacement to reduce downtime and operational expenses in the presidential fleet.
Previously, a senior government official informed Daily Trust that the aircraft may have been purchased under the Service Wide Vote, a method that potentially bypasses the need for parliamentary approval.
Below are images of the new aircraft:
