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The Digest:

The Federal Government has allocated N10.61 billion over three years for engine overhauls of Vice President Kashim Shettima's Gulfstream G550 aircraft. The funding is part of a wider N19.27 billion fleet maintenance budget, sparking debate over cost and priorities amid Nigeria's fiscal constraints

Key Points (7 bullets):

  • N10.61 billion approved for VP Shettima's aircraft engine maintenance over three years.
  • The G550 received 55% of the N19.27 billion fleet engine overhaul budget under President Tinubu.
  • Costs rose from N1.24 billion in 2024 to N5.51 billion in 2025 before dropping to N3.86 billion in 2026.
  • The aircraft faced technical faults, causing trip cancellations to the US and Samoa in 2024.
  • Two Falcon 7X jets received N6.98 billion, and another Gulfstream jet received N1.68 billion.
  • The Gulfstream G550 is 13 years old; older aircraft require more costly and frequent overhauls.
  • The Presidential Air Fleet has 10 aircraft; critics call it large and expensive, given Nigeria’s economy.
When public funds meet high-altitude maintenance, questions of value and visibility arise. This allocation highlights the tension between operational necessity and fiscal responsibility

Sources: Vanguard, Punch