President Bola Tinubu Faces Outrage Over New Jet Amid Economic Crisis Nigeria
Nigeria citizens are fuming over what they call their president's extravagance. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has bought a new jet at a time when the country's economy is experiencing its worst crisis in a generation. The newly purchased Airbus A330 replaces a Boeing 737-700, now taking the number of aircraft in the president's fleet to over five. President Tinubu used his new jet to travel to France on the 19th of August, which his office says was a brief working visit. Social media users in Nigeria called President Bola Tinubu insensitive to the plight of average Nigerians, some even called out the government for telling Nigerians to bear the economic hardship while they themselves were busy paying cash for a new private jet.
The president's purchase of a new jet comes less than a fortnight after thousands took to the streets across Nigeria, protesting against the rising cost of living and hunger. In defense, the president's office says the new jet will save Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs running into millions of dollars each year. The government said the 19-year-old Boeing plane malfunctioned during the president's trip to Saudi Arabia in April of this year. The office also said the new aircraft was bought far below the market price. Nigeria has not revealed the exact amount of money it used in purchasing the Airbus A330, a 15-year-old plane with elaborate configuration for VIPs. It is also furnished with state-of-the-art aviation electronics, a customized interior, and communication systems.
The new presidential jet was released recently to the Nigerian government after it was seized by a Chinese firm, which obtained a Paris court order to seize the Nigerian firm assets following a dispute with Nigeria's Osun State. Nigerian media reports claim that the new jet was acquired from a German bank after the plane was repossessed from its West Asian owner who defaulted on his loan. Reports also claim this jet was purchased for $100 million in June this year. Nigerian lawmakers recommended the purchase of two new aircraft for the president and also for his deputy, saying the old ones were not safe.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu allegedly has a penchant for air travel, and this is despite tough economic conditions at home. So much so that he, along with Kenya's William Ruto, have been nicknamed The Flying President. Tinubu used his new jet to fly to Paris from Abuja on the 19th of August. His office has said that he was on a brief working day in France; however, the reason for the visit has still not been disclosed. A meeting with either the French president or prime minister is certainly not on the agenda. This is Tinubu's fourth trip to France since assuming office in 23. In fact, the latest trip to France came just 2 days after he returned from Equatorial Guinea. In the first eight months of his term, Bola Tinubu made 14 trips, an average of just under two a month. He reportedly spent at least $2.2 million on domestic and foreign travel in the first 6 months of his presidency, which was 36% more than the budgeted amount for 2023. The Nigerian opposition has often labeled President Tinubu as a tourist-in-chief. Now, as ordinary Nigerians face a tough economic battle, they have tougher questions for the president over spending, or rather, splurging public money.
