Presidency to upgrade presidential fleet with N1.5 billion

The Presidency intends to upgrade some of the aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) next year with a proposed sum of N1.492 billion.

This information was contained in the 2020 Appropriation Bill presented to a joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

In a related development, another N200.994 million has been set aside for the purpose of engine overhaul in the Presidential fleet next year.

Details of the PAF’s budget are captured under the budget of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The breakdown is as follows:

N792 million will be spent on “mandatory upgrade and installation of live TV and Internet service on BBJ (5N-FGT).”

N50 million will be spent on “compliance with mandatory upgrade and installation of Internet service on G550 (5N-FGW).”

N650 million is being proposed to be spent on “compliance with mandatory upgrades on PAF aircraft.”

Further details of the budget revealed that N250 million will be spent on aviation fuel during the year. The sum is part of the N467.86 million budgeted for fuel and lubricants (general) for 2020.

The budget also includes fueling expenses. The sum of N115.86 million was budgeted for motor vehicle fuel; N70 million for plant/generator fuel; N30.2 million for other transport equipment fuel; while N1.8 million was budgeted for cooking gas/fuel.

However, the PAF intends to refund N1.22 billion to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria for asset acquisition.

Further breakdown of the budget is revealed below:

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The construction of armoury is expected to gulp N120 million while N178.273 million will be spent on the renovation of the HQ 011 PAF complex and aircraft hangar.

Fire fighting vehicle will cost N90 million during the year while N89.413 million will be spent on the purchase of six pieces of FIDO X3 Military Grade Scanners.

Note: In 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the sale of two of the 10 aircraft in the presidential air fleet as a means of cutting waste of resources expended on plane maintenance.