In a country where over 130 million people are trapped in multidimensional poverty, where hunger gnaws at the bellies of millions, and where the echoes of protests against bad governance are still fresh, President Bola Tinubu has committed an unforgivable act of extravagance. His administration’s decision to spend $150 million on a new presidential jet is not just tone-deaf; it is a brazen act of contempt for the very people he was elected to serve.
This move is particularly galling when juxtaposed with the actions of leaders in other parts of the world. U.S. President Joe Biden continues to use a 34-year-old aircraft, which has served multiple American presidents, without so much as a whisper of complaint. Meanwhile, Tinubu, barely a year into his presidency, has deemed it necessary to discard a 19-year-old aircraft—a plane that has served Nigeria through the terms of four presidents—as unfit for use.
The Tinubu government’s rationale for this purchase is as weak as it is insulting. The claim that the old Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) was embarrassing because of mechanical issues on trips abroad is laughable at best. If the American Air Force One, which has been in operation for decades, can be maintained to the highest standards, why couldn’t the federal government ensure the same for its presidential aircraft? This is not about the age of the aircraft; it is about the glaring failure of leadership and a misplaced sense of priority.
The audacity of this purchase, in the face of widespread suffering, is nothing short of scandalous. Nigeria is reeling from economic hardship that has pushed millions into poverty. Basic amenities are out of reach for many, and the cost of living is skyrocketing. Yet, the Presidency finds it appropriate to spend $150 million on a luxury jet, including $50 million on unnecessary retrofits and upgrades. This is the height of irresponsibility, a stark reminder that the Nigerian political elite are grossly disconnected from the reality on the ground.
Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, aptly described this situation when she called the Presidency and the National Assembly “bandits” against Nigerians. Her words are a painful truth that resonates deeply with the masses. The political class in Nigeria seems to have abandoned any pretense of serving the public good. Instead, they have chosen to enrich themselves, disregarding the suffering of the very citizens who put them in power.
The timing of this purchase adds salt to the wound. Coming on the heels of the #EndBadGovernment protests—a movement born out of frustration with corruption, mismanagement, and disregard for human life—this action is a slap in the face of every Nigerian who dared to dream of a better country. It is a reminder that, in the ears of those in power, the cries of the masses are mere noise.
This jet is not just a symbol of luxury; it is a symbol of everything that is wrong with Nigerian governance. It represents the skewed priorities of a government that would rather spend billions on personal comfort than address the critical needs of its people. It is a blatant display of power and privilege, a message that the elites will continue to live in opulence while the masses suffer in silence.
Nigerians must not allow this affront to go unanswered. This is not just about a jet; it is about the future of a country where the gap between the rich and the poor grows wider every day. It is about demanding accountability from those in power and insisting that the needs of the people come first. Tinubu’s extravagant purchase is a betrayal of the Nigerian people, and it must not be forgotten or forgiven. It is time for Nigerians to be more determined to hold their leaders accountable, to demand a government that serves the people rather than one that exploits them.
