Nigerians outraged by president’s new plane

Recently, many Nigerians have expressed their anger over the purchase of a new plane for President Bola Tinubu. This decision comes at a time when the country is facing severe economic challenges, with many citizens struggling to afford basic necessities. Just weeks ago, thousands of people took to the streets to protest against rising hunger and the increasing cost of living. President Tinubu, who was elected last year to lead Nigeria, has implemented several economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, which have contributed to the current inflation rate of over 30%. The president believes that these reforms are essential for reducing government spending and promoting long-term economic growth. In January, he announced a significant reduction in the size of official travel delegations, including his own. However, on Monday, he traveled to France on a newly acquired Airbus A330, which is now part of the presidential fleet that already includes more than five aircraft. The cost of the new plane has not been disclosed, and the purpose of his trip remains unclear. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to voice their outrage. One user, @Fdmlearn, questioned the fairness of the government asking citizens to endure economic hardship while purchasing a new plane for the president. They wrote, 'Wait so despite the Tinubu led Government telling Nigerians to bear the economic hardship and wait for a better tomorrow, they were busy paying cash for a new private Jet to add to the presidential fleet that has over 6 aircraft’s already? ' Another user, @RealOlaudah, expressed even stronger feelings, stating, 'Let's tell ourselves the truth. Tinubu's new Airbus presidential aircraft purchase for N150 billion at a time of penury, hunger, and want shows how wicked, selfish, self-indulgent, and insensitive to the plight of the average Nigerian he really is. ' On the other hand, some individuals, like @Timi_The_Law, have defended the president's decision, arguing that the plane is not for personal use but belongs to the office of the president. They stated, 'Tinubu's decision to buy a new plane is the right one. The plane belongs to the office of the president, and future presidents will enjoy it. ' It remains uncertain whether lawmakers approved the purchase, as it was not mentioned in this year's budget. In a statement on social media, President Tinubu's media aide, Bayo Onanuga, claimed that the new plane would actually save money for the country. He stated, 'The new plane, bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly. ' The new presidential jet was recently returned to the Nigerian government after being seized by a Chinese firm, Zhangson Investment Co. Limited, due to an investment dispute with Ogun state in the south-west of Nigeria. This 15-year-old plane is designed for VIPs and will replace the country's 19-year-old Boeing BBJ 737-700. Nigerian officials have previously mentioned that the presidential fleet has high maintenance costs because of the age of its planes. In June, lawmakers recommended purchasing two new aircraft for the president and his deputy, citing safety concerns with the older planes. Last month, lawmakers passed a supplementary budget that increased the 2024 budget from 28. 7 trillion naira to 35. 06 trillion naira. It is still unclear if the new plane purchase was included in this budget. The BBC has reached out to the Senate President and the Office of the National Security Adviser but has not yet received a response.