Public anger is boiling over following the Bola Tinubu administration’s decision to purchase a new presidential jet for over N150 billion at a time when Nigerians are grappling with a relentless economic crisis. The new Airbus A330, which has replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 bought during Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency, was acquired despite widespread condemnation. The aircraft’s price tag, exceeding $100 million, highlights the government’s extravagant spending while citizens endure crushing inflation, now standing at 33%.
The purchase follows the removal of subsidies and the unification of exchange rates, policies that have sent commodity prices soaring. The economic hardship these measures have imposed on Nigerians contrasts sharply with the government’s apparent disregard for its own austerity advice. Former Minister Oby Ezekwesili, during a recent interview on Arise Television, criticized the government’s priorities, questioning the logic behind acquiring a “befitting aircraft” amid widespread hunger and poverty.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has vowed to fast-track any necessary approvals to complete the acquisition, further fueling public discontent. Despite the National Assembly’s claim that funds for the purchase have not been appropriated, President Tinubu has already used the jet for a trip to France, deepening the sense of outrage.
Adding to the list of luxury expenditures, the government allocated N5 billion for a presidential yacht in its 2023 supplementary budget. Although public uproar led to the National Assembly rejecting the purchase, sources reveal that the yacht had already arrived in Nigeria. Pressure is now mounting on the Navy to return the vessel, but the government has remained silent on the matter.
Another expenditure drawing criticism is the reported N21 billion used to complete the Vice President’s official residence, a project fast-tracked by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. Despite other pressing infrastructure needs, the government prioritized the mansion’s completion, leading to widespread public outrage.
In a similar vein, National Assembly members have received luxurious Sport Utility Vehicles, reportedly costing N160 million each. Although the House of Representatives claims these are official cars to be returned at the end of the administration, some lawmakers allegedly opted for cash instead, fueling suspicions of mismanagement.
Furthermore, the government’s N90 billion subsidy for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage has sparked controversy. The subsidy was intended to offset the increased costs due to naira devaluation, but it is now under investigation by anti-graft agencies. NAHCON Chairman Jalal Arabi and several other officials have been arrested by the EFCC over alleged mismanagement of these funds.
Finally, the N1.5 billion allocated for vehicles for the Office of the First Lady in the 2023 supplementary budget has reignited debates over the relevance and cost of maintaining an office that many view as largely ceremonial. Critics argue that these funds could have been better spent addressing the myriad challenges facing ordinary Nigerians.
