The Nigerian government is set to receive a reconfigured VP-CAC Midroc Aviation Airbus A330-243 as the new presidential jet christened as 5N-FGA with manufacturing serial number 1053, according to Planespotters records.
The new presidential jet, 5N-FGA, was recently spotted in a terminal at EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, Germany, displaying the Presidential Seal of Nigeria.
On record, the jet was stored in Euro Airport on May 30, 2024, after a repaint and cabin outfitting in 2012.
It will be recalled that in June 2024, the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence recommended the acquisition of a new Presidential jet for President Bola Tinubu.
This followed an investigative hearing into the state of the Presidential Air Fleet on May 20, as the committee highlighted that several aircraft in the Presidential fleet are unserviceable and ageing, leading to increased downtime and operational expenses.
With the disclosure of the committee, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stated that the Senate would approve the payment for the jet if the President asked for it.
It will also be recalled that according to the State House maintenance records for the Presidential Air Fleet, makntenance costs from April to June 2024 were N80 billion, as shown in the OpenTreasury report.
As of press time, no state officials have disclosed any information regarding the jet nor how much of the taxpayer’s money was used to pay for he plane valued at $98 million.
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