Nigerian Air Force Places Presidential Plane Up For Sale

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has put up a presidential plane for sale in an unexpected announcement.

According to a statement, the government approved on Monday the sale of the Falcon 900B jet previously used by the president and other top officials.

The NAF published the statement on its official website and has since invited interested buyers to submit bids for the purchase of the plane.

The NAF outlined details for both email and physical bids, with December 24th as deadline for all offers.

The statement reads;

The bids will be processed immediately after expiration of the deadline for submission.

The Nigerian Air Force

This presidential jet is one piece of the larger presidential air fleet that the country maintains for official travel and transport across Nigeria.

The decision to sell it signals efforts to cut costs and reduce waste.

Critics have often condemned the fleet as an excessive luxury in a country still struggling with poverty and infrastructure deficits.

Selling one jet will not dramatically change that equation but perhaps signals fresh thinking.

The presidential plane it has put on sale this week is the one tangible step taken so far.

Aviation enthusiasts, plane brokers and others have been urged to take advantage of the opportunity.

More on the Presidential Plane

The presidential plane to be sold is a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) that has been specially customized for executive transportation.

This plane has served multiple Nigerian presidents since it was first acquired in the early 2000s, transporting them within and outside Nigeria.

Nicknamed “Eagle One“, the presidential plane can usually seat 25 to 50 passengers within a luxurious configuration.

This may include a master bedroom, a washroom with showers, a conference/dining area, and a living area.

Budgetary allocations for the presidential plane reportedly showed that it averaged N7 billion in the last 10 years.

The highest and lowest that has been allocated for the fleet was under the administration of ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan.