The Presidency yesterday revealed how two potential buyers of two jets on the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) bungled their sale.
In a newspaper advertisement on October 4, 2016, the Presidency had disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the sale of two presidential aircraft, a Falcon 7X executive jet and Hawker 4000, for sale as part of moves by the President to reduce waste in line with his promises during the campaign period.
While some of the jets were said to have been handed over to the Nigerian Air Force towards fighting insurgency and other security challenges, attempts to sell the two advertised jets were said to have failed because of alleged insincerity on the part of the potential buyers.
It was gathered that while the amount the two preferred bidders agreed to pay for the two aircraft was $24 million, they reneged when they were asked for payment as they came up with a new figure of $11 million for the two jets.
Speaking with The Nation yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said: “You know that the President, even during the campaigns, said he was going to reduce the jets in the presidential fleet.
“As we speak now, the fleet is reduced. Some of the aircraft in the presidential fleet have been handed over to the Nigeria Air Force and they have been deployed, long time ago, to the battle against insurgents in the North East and other places having security challenges.
“The only problem was that there were two aircraft that were advertised for sale. Bidders came in with their bids. From the beginning, it was indicated that the reserved price must be met.
“And so, technical assessment was done competently.”
Although he did not disclose the names of the failed buyers, Garba added: “However, I think the people who won the bids were not sincere, without being accusatory.
“They probably thought that deals would be made. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case under President Muhammadu Buhari.”
He added: “They bid for the aircrafts within the reserved price. In fact, in one case, the reserved price was even exceeded and the other one was slightly lower.
“But when you put the two together on money coming to the government on the basis of the bids, the government was losing nothing on the basis of the reserved price that was fixed.
“However, when they were asked to bring money, they came back to say that they wanted the prices to be lowered.
“What that means, in our assumptions, is that they wanted to cut deals.
“They thought it was possible to bring down the price and then share the margins, but this is not the practice under this administration. So, the sale was aborted on the basis of that.
“I think that if the President decides that the aircraft would be re-advertised, that would be the case. But as it is now, the sales have failed.”
In a statement he issued on October 4, 2016, Shehu had said: “When he campaigned to be President, the then APC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, if you recall, promised to look at the Presidential Air Fleet with a view to cutting down on waste.
“His directive to a government committee on this assignment is that he likes to see a compact and reliable aircraft for the safe airlift of the President, the Vice-President and other government officials that go on special missions.
“This exercise is by no means complete. I am sure the Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet will any time from now call you to a ceremony at which he will hand over some other aircraft to the Air Force for their operations.”
From details of the newspaper advertisement announcing the sale of the two aircraft, the Falcon 7X with registration number 5N-FGU and serial number 090, showed that the aircraft entered into service in 2011 and had completed 2776:47 hours and 2363 cycles.
It also revealed that its “Take off at sea level—5,555ft; landing distance—2,070ft; certified ceiling—51, 000ft; cruise speed—488kts; Easy II Avionics 1A Complainct/Satcom. Interior: Passenger capacity—16, crew seating capacity—3; forward and Aft lavatories; four large screen monitors; six small adjustable seat mounted monitors and fully automated media centre.”
For the second aircraft, Hawker 4000 with registration number 5N-FGX and serial number RC 066, the advertisement showed that it entered into service in 2012 while it had completed 1178:15 hours and 1146 cycles.
Further details of the aircraft indicates: “Range—3190NM; take off at sea level—5,068 ft; landing distance—2,475ft; certified ceiling—45,000ft; cruise speed—482kts; Honeywell Primus Epic Avionics/Satcom. Interior: Passenger capacity—9, crew seating capacity–3 with detachable jump seat; Aft lavatories; two monitors; power outlet in cabin and cockpit and fully automated media centre.”