Nigeria’s recently acquired N150bn presidential jet has returned to the country after undergoing a full exterior repaint in South Africa.
The Airbus A330-200, now bearing Nigeria’s green and white colours, was spotted on Wednesday at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Images shared by aviation-tracking handle @Abuja_Aviation on Instagram showed the aircraft, with registration number 5N-FGA, adorned with green-white-green stripes along its fuselage and the Nigerian Air Force crest near the cockpit windows. The twin-engine, wide-body jet appeared inactive, with red covers over its engine intakes and a self-contained stairway at the forward door, though no passengers were visible. Ground personnel were seen around the aircraft.
A presidency official, who requested anonymity, confirmed the jet’s return, stating it had completed exterior repainting and minor interior upgrades. “It will resume presidential duties after standard acceptance checks by the Air Force’s Presidential Air Fleet,” the source added.
Although no timeline was given for the aircraft’s next deployment, footage released Friday by the State House showed President Bola Tinubu boarding the jet for an official visit to Kano State.
He is also expected to travel to Ogun State in the coming days for condolence visits following the passing of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who died on July 13 at the age of 91 after a 65-year reign.
In May 2025, The PUNCH reported that the aircraft had been sent to South Africa for repainting and refitting—barely nine months after it was delivered to Nigeria in August 2024 from a European leasing firm. The 15-year-old plane had been inactive for about three months prior to its departure.
During that period, President Tinubu relied on a San Marino–registered Boeing Business Jet (T7-NAS) for domestic and international travel.
Sources said the aircraft’s commercial livery needed to be replaced with Nigeria’s official colours before it could operate under the “Eagle One” presidential call sign. In addition to repainting, it underwent interior refurbishments to suit VIP needs.
Registered in Nigeria as 5N-FGA and operated by the Nigerian Air Force’s 001 Squadron, the A330 is equipped with a master bedroom, shower, conference room, and secure communications suite. It was purchased for $100 million (N150bn) using funds from the service-wide vote.
The acquisition and spending have drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers and sections of the public.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, defended the move, describing the jet as “spacious and fitted with cutting-edge avionics and communications systems,” which would save Nigeria millions in annual maintenance and fuel costs.
Aviation experts note that the aircraft’s 13-hour range enables nonstop flights from Abuja to destinations like New York or Beijing—an advantage over the older Boeing 737 Business Jet used by former President Muhammadu Buhari, which often required fuel stops.
Although officials declined to disclose the repainting cost, industry estimates suggest a full-body repaint of an Airbus A330 typically costs between $190,000 and $320,000.
Simple two-tone liveries like Nigeria’s green and white may fall at the lower end of that range.
The A330 joins one of Africa’s largest presidential fleets, comprising around 11 aircraft. Until recently, it included a 20-year-old B737-700 BBJ, acquired during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure for $43 million.
That jet is now listed for sale in Switzerland by U.S.-based firm JetHQ, which is yet to respond to media inquiries regarding the asking price.
The current Presidential Air Fleet includes a 13-year-old Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7Xs, a Hawker 4000, and a Challenger 605. Three of these fixed-wing jets are reportedly unserviceable. The rotor-wing segment includes two Agusta 139 and two Agusta 101 helicopters, managed by the Nigerian Air Force under the supervision of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Read Also: https://fusionchronicles.ng/ngx-gains-n833bn-on-cement-stock-surge/
Both the Buhari and Tinubu administrations have previously pledged to downsize and streamline the Presidential Air Fleet for greater cost efficiency.
