FG Approves N19bn for Presidential Air Fleet Engine Overhauls, N10.6bn Goes to Shettima’s Aircraft
The Federal Government has earmarked N10.61 billion over a three-year period to overhaul the engines of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s Gulfstream G550 aircraft, registered as 5N-FGW, PulseNets learnt from a review of federal budget documents of Presidential Air Fleet.
An analysis of appropriation bills covering 2024 to 2026, obtained by PulseNets, shows that the vice president’s jet attracted the single largest engine-maintenance allocation within the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF), accounting for about 55 per cent of the N19.27 billion approved for engine overhauls across the fleet during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Budget breakdowns indicate that funding for the aircraft rose sharply from N1.24 billion in 2024 to N5.51 billion in 2025, before declining to N3.86 billion in 2026. The G550, which operates under the call sign “Nigerian Air Force 2” whenever it conveys the vice president, reportedly experienced recurring technical issues in 2024. These challenges led to the cancellation of Vice President Shettima’s planned trips to the United States and Samoa.
A senior official familiar with the fleet’s operations told PulseNets that “the persistent technical faults made immediate and comprehensive engine work unavoidable,” adding that the urgency of the repairs largely explains the spike in costs captured in the 2025 budget.
Other aircraft within the Presidential Air Fleet were also allocated funds for engine-related maintenance. PulseNets gathered that two Falcon 7X jets were jointly assigned N6.98 billion over the same three-year period, while another Gulfstream aircraft, 5N-FGS, received N1.68 billion earmarked specifically for engine overhaul in 2024.
Overall spending on engine maintenance reached its highest point in 2025, coinciding with the delivery of the N150 billion Airbus A330 acquired for presidential use. Government sources, who spoke to PulseNets, maintained that the acquisition of the newer wide-body aircraft is expected to “significantly lower long-term maintenance and fuel costs” for the presidency.
Aviation experts point to aircraft age as a major cost driver. The Gulfstream G550 assigned to the vice president is understood to be approximately 13 years old, and industry specialists say older jets typically require more frequent and costly overhauls as major components approach the end of their service life. Complete engine overhauls for a G550 can range from $1.5 million to $3 million per engine, suggesting that the approved sums likely go beyond routine servicing.
Also Read: 2024 Budget: Tinubu’s govt to spend N346 billion on Presidential Air Fleet, vehicles, welfare packages, refreshments
The Presidential Air Fleet currently operates 10 aircraft, comprising six jets and four helicopters. Critics have repeatedly questioned the size and cost of the fleet in light of Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal pressures. While President Tinubu has taken delivery of a new Airbus A330, PulseNets reports that no replacement plan has yet been announced for the vice president’s aircraft, which continues to attract substantial maintenance allocations.
