The Presidency has commenced plans to purchase a brand new aeroplane by making an initial deposit of N1, 520,000,000 for the aircraft. This will bring to 11 the number of aircraft in the presidential fleet.
According to the 2014 budget estimates submitted to the National Assembly last week for appropriation, several new items are to be purchased anew by the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) under the supervision of the State House.
Other new items listed in the PAF budget are – the completion of hanger project (N405,500,000), tyre bay tools and equipment (N106,000,000), Towberless tow tractor for aircraft towing ( N58,740,000), hanger sweeper (N31,870,000), luggage conveyor belt truck (N28,898,000) and harlan tow tug for aircraft equipment towing (N27,590,000).
Other new items are – CCTV and surveillance equipment (N18,000,000), aircraft toolsand equipment (N11,480,000), battery workshop equipment (N5,050,000), complete tool box for general works and vehicles (N360,000), heavy duty crocodile jacks (N300,000), aluminum ladder (N285,000), safety boots (N52,500) and foldable ladder ( N50,000).
In 2012, there were plans by the Presidency to acquire two planes and as things stand for now the aircrafts in the fleet of the PAF include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, a Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and a Gulfstream IVSP, one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.
It is estimated that each of the Falcon 7X jets purchased in 2010 cost the nation, $51.1 million, while the Gulfstream 550 was purchased for $53.3 million.