President Tinubu Takes Private Jet to South Africa, Avoiding Presidential Aircraft

President Bola Tinubu and his entourage flew two private jets from Lagos to Pretoria on Tuesday, June 18, to attend the inauguration of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

According to Punch, a source who saw the President departing from Lagos, where he spent the Eid holiday, mentioned that the President and his team left in two private jets.

“They went in two private jets. Of course, you are aware that the presidential jets are no longer in good shape,” the source, who preferred not to be mentioned, said.

The President reportedly departed from the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja on a Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft at approximately 11:06 am.

According to presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, the President would attend the inauguration of Ramaphosa following his re-election as President for a second term.

This development occurred just 24 hours after the Presidency responded to the objection raised by Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, against the demand for new aircraft for the presidential fleet. The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence had recently urged the Federal Government to procure a new aircraft for President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

The committee’s recommendation was included in a report released after investigating the condition of the aircraft in the presidential air fleet.

On Monday, Obi described the move as unfortunate on his X handle, stating that it came at a time when Nigerians were struggling with economic hardships caused by the Federal Government’s policies.

However, the Presidency quickly responded, calling Obi’s comment insensitive and questioning if he would prefer to risk the President’s life by having him fly in faulty aircraft.