President Bola Tinubu has been in the news for the controversial purchase of a new presidential jet despite the suffering of Nigerians.

The presidency in a post on X via Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy released pictures on Monday, August 19 disclosing that the new jet will replace the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought during the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to several reports, the new aircraft costs less than $100 million with Onanuga indicating that the new plane was bought for far below the market price.

He said it saved Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly while stressing that it is spacious and furnished with state-of-the-art avionics, customized interior and communication system

While the conversation continues on social media, here are a few facts about the newly purchased

Aircraft Model

The Airbus A330 is a spacious and wide-body aircraft known popularly for is range and fuel efficiency. The aircraft is mostly used for long-haul flights and is popular with governments for its comfort and capacity.

Purchase Cost

Several reports indicate the Airbus A330 was purchased for a whopping $100 million.

The reported cost of the Airbus A330 purchased for President Tinubu is around $100 million. While the presidency only disclosed it got the presidential jet for a good bargain, Simple Fyling indicated that the A330-200 costs $238.5 million, the freighter version costs $241.7 million, and the A330-800(neo) goes for $259.9 million. The A330-800, as we know, is very rare, with only 14 on order.

It noted that the A330-300, on the other hand, is listed at $264.2 million, and the A330-900(neo) is initially priced at $296.4 million.

Luxury Features

As a presidential jet, the Airbus A330 has luxurious modifications, including a customized interior with state-of-the-art communication systems, conference rooms, private suites, and other amenities to facilitate both comfort and work for the President during flights.

Range and Performance

The new Airbus A330 has a long-range capability, able to fly between 5,000 to 7,200 nautical miles depending on the specific model and configuration. This makes it suitable for non-stop flights from Nigeria to various parts of the world.

Usage

The jet will be used for official use by the president only, facilitating international travel for diplomatic missions, state visits, and other presidential duties.