Opposition parties, such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party, have sharply criticised the Nigerian Federal Government‘s N55 billion budgetary allocation for the Presidential Fleet’s maintenance in 2025.
They contend that such a large amount ought to be used to solve urgent national concerns including infrastructure development, healthcare, and education.
The National Assembly is now reviewing the 2025 Appropriation Bill, which calls for spending more than N55.5 billion to overhaul three of the presidential fleet’s aircraft engines.
Fuelling, fumigation, air navigation, cleaning, and other maintenance costs are also included in this sum. In contrast, the Ministry of Aviation’s whole budget for 2025 is projected to be around N105.95 billion.
The Presidential Air Fleet’s upkeep and operations cost at least N19.43 billion between July 2023 and September 2024. In 2024 alone, N13.55 billion was spent, accounting for 66% of the cash authorised for that fiscal year.
Given the financial difficulties that many Nigerians experience, many see the anticipated spending on the presidential fleet as a waste of tax dollars.
They argue that such extravagant spending is disconnected from the people’s reality, which includes problems like inflation, unemployment, and poverty.
The government responds by defending the allocation and highlighting the need to keep a secure and operational presidential fleet for official functions.
Nonetheless, the discussion goes on, emphasising the continuous conflict between public expectations and official agendas.
