FG to sell three presidential jets

Indications emerged on Sunday that the Federal Government had concluded plans to sell three of the aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet.

The aircraft are a Hawker 125-800, Falcon 900B and Gulfstream IV.

Consequently, a panel set up under the Office of the National Security Adviser has put up the three jets for sale through an invitation to tender. It was contained in the Thursday edition of the Federal Government’s Tenders in Nigeria Journal.

The notice, which was signed by the panel’s Secretary, Mr. Basil Udota, reads in part, “Tenders are hereby invited from prospective buyers of a nine-seater + three crew seater Hawker 125-800 executive aircraft (otherwise known as HS 125-800), which is currently in the use of the Presidential Air Fleet and registered as 5N-AGZ.

“Tenders are hereby invited from prospective buyers of a 16 seater + three crew seater Falcon 900B executive aircraft, which is currently in the use of the Presidential Air Fleet and registered as 5N-FGO.

“Tenders are hereby invited from prospective buyers of a 14 seater + three crew seater Gulfstream IV executive aircraft (otherwise known as GIV) which is currently in the use of the Presidential Air Fleet and registered as 5N-FGP.”

According to the journal, all tenders must be submitted in a sealed envelope to the Office of the Secretary to the Panel on the Sale of Three Presidential Aircraft in the NSA’s Office on or before Tuesday.

The tender stated that the aircraft would be available for inspection by all interested bidders at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on appointment.

According to the advertisement, two of the aircraft were manufactured in 1990 while one was manufactured in 1988. The jets were said to be in good condition.

When contacted on the telephone on Sunday, Udota confirmed the development but said he could only speak after the sale of the aircraft. The Special Adviser to the President on Aviation Matters, Capt. Shehu Iyal, did not pick calls to his phone.

However, THE PUNCH learnt that the sale might not be unconnected with the proposed acquisition of new aircraft by the Federal Government.
Source:punchng