2014: FG To Maintain Presidential Jets With N1.52Bn - Punch

2014: FG To Maintain Presidential
Jets With N1.52Bn - Punch
Culled from Punch
The Federal Government has budgeted
N1.52b for the maintenance of the 10 aircraft
currently in the Presidential Air Fleet in 2014.
The maintenance cost is slightly higher than
the N1.5bn proposed as the initial deposit for
the purchase of additional aircraft that will
bring the number of aircraft in the fleet to 11.
This is apart from the N747m earmarked for
the purchase of aviation fuel for the aircraft
already in the fleet.
These figures are contained in the details of the
2014 Appropriation Bill presented to the National
Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan through
the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,
penultimate week.
The government has also earmarked N458.5m for
international trainings for the fleet’s personnel in
the coming year.
Another chunk of the budget for the fleet is the
N675.9m budgeted for the rehabilitation/
renovation/repairs of PAF Barracks.
A whopping N405.5m is also proposed for the
completion of a hangar project under the PAF
budget for the year while N106m is earmarked for
tyre bay tools and equipment.
The PAF’s security vote (including operations) is
N259.55m; insurance premium — N445.7m; as
well as cleaning and fumigation services —N58m.
N71.74m is budgeted for 797 units of LG 2HP air
conditioners for PAF Barracks; N40.5m is
earmarked for three units of Toyota Coaster buses
and N26.4m for four units of Toyota Hilux.
Motor vehicle fuel will gulp N29.6m, other
transport equipment fuel cost — N26.5m; plant/
generator fuel cost N14.5m as well as cooking
gas/fuel cost — N2m.
The N67m devoted to miscellaneous included
refreshment and meals — N28.9m; postage and
courier services — N15m; medical expenses —
N12m; corps members kitting, transport and
feeding allowance N3.7m and honorarium and
sitting allowance — N3.6m.
PAF is said to have the third largest fleet of aircraft
in the country with a total of 10 aircraft, coming
closely behind Aerocontractors Airlines, which has
a total of 14 aircraft.
Arik Air, the largest commercial airline in the
country, has a fleet of 23 aircraft.
The PAF include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon
900 jets, Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ
(Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and
Gulfstream IVSP.
Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2
aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.