Akpabio and fellow lawmakers react to the recent news surrounding the purchase of the presidential jet.

Written by COMFORT 95.1FM on August 19, 2024

The apparent lack of transparency and communication has left many questioning the process behind the acquisition of the new presidential jet.

A fresh controversy has erupted over purchasing a new presidential jet for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with Nigerian lawmakers denying any knowledge or approval of the acquisition.

Even with the recent acquisition of an Airbus A330, the National Assembly remains firm in its claim that it was not part of the decision-making process, raising concerns about the transparency of government spending.

Reports emerged in late June revealing that the Nigerian government had procured the Airbus A330 from a German bank, which had seized the aircraft from an unnamed Arabian prince due to a significant debt default.

Despite the high-profile nature of the purchase, the Presidency did not release an official statement, leaving the public uncertain about the details.

The matter came into the spotlight when Senate President Godswill Akpabio addressed it in a recent plenary session. He confirmed that the National Assembly had not received any formal request regarding the jet’s acquisition.

“We are dedicated to serving the president and the Nigerian people. We will approve measures that truly benefit the nation,” Akpabio stated, noting that the purchase had not yet been presented for approval.

He also pointed out the risks of using outdated or defective aircraft, citing incidents involving the vice president of Malawi and the president of Iran, both of whom perished in plane crashes.

“The Senate and the National Assembly are committed to responsible oversight. We will address issues that enhance the country’s governance,” Akpabio asserted.

However, he was clear that no request for approval of the aircraft purchase had been made to the Senate.

The situation was further complicated when three Nigerian aircraft were seized by a Chinese firm, following a French court’s order related to a legal dispute between the Ogun State government and Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment.

Chinese firm lifts seizure on presidential jet

A Chinese firm released one of the seized planes, an Airbus A330, enabling President Tinubu to attend a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

This move sparked rumors that the released aircraft might be the same one recently acquired for Tinubu.

A presidential spokesperson confirmed the purchase, saying, “That matter is settled. Now that it has been released… If it wasn’t bought, how could the Chinese company have withheld it? There’s no controversy here.”

The spokesperson, who preferred to remain anonymous, hinted that the aircraft may have been acquired through the Service Wide Vote, a process that might not require National Assembly approval.

Lawmakers’ reaction to alleged purchase of new jet

Lawmakers, however, remain firm in their stance that they were not involved in the presidential jet purchase process.

According to a report by Daily Trust, a Senate insider disclosed, “At no point was [the deal] brought up in a plenary session. It was never tabled for discussion.”

Another source echoed this view, noting that the last communication from the Senate President confirmed that no official request had been received from the Presidency.

Concerns were also raised by members of the House of Representatives, with one member stating, “We haven’t seen any mention of a new presidential aircraft in the main budget or the supplementary budget. It was presented as a lump sum… So, we can’t comment until we see the specifics.”

The apparent lack of transparency and communication has led many to question the process behind the acquisition of the new presidential jet.

As the National Assembly waits for further details, the public remains eager for answers about how this multi-million-dollar deal was finalized without legislative oversight.