Buhari To Hand Over Presidential Jets To NAF

Barring any last-minute change in plan, President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday hand over some aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet to the Nigerian Air Force.

A top Presidency source told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that the handover ceremony would hold at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Although the source was not forthcoming on the number of aircraft to be handed over to NAF, it was learnt that at least two of such presidential jets would be presented to the air force.

The source said, “I can confirm to you that based on the directive of the president, the commander of the Presidential Air Fleet will hand over some aircraft in the fleet to the Nigeria Air Force on Monday. The handover ceremony will be open to members of the public. President Buhari may be represented at the event by the minister of defence. It will hold at about midday on Monday.”

Out of the 10 aircraft currently in the fleet, only the Boeing Business Jet (Boeing 737-800 or Air Force One), is for the president’s exclusive use.

Others who fly aircraft in the fleet are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Aisha Buhari; Dolapo Osinbajo; Senate President Bukola Saraki; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; ex-heads of state and top government officials on national assignments on behalf of the president.

(Punch)