(Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye – ABUJA)
The Presidency has confirmed that it is putting up for the sale of two Presidential aircraft, a Falcon 7x executive jet and Hawker 4000.
It has also said some of the other aircrafts would be handed over to the Nigeria Air Force soon.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the advertisements placed in a daily newspaper were duly authorized by the Presidency.
He said it was in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that aircraft in the Presidential air fleet be reduced to cut down on waste.
According to Shehu, “When he campaigned to be President, the then APC candidate Muhammadu Buhari, if you recall, promised to look at the presidential air fleet with view to cutting down on waste.
“His directive to a government committee on this assignment is that he liked 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”.