ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government has completed plans to sell Nigeria’s 20-year-old Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), previously used for presidential travel, as part of efforts to streamline the Presidential Air Fleet following the recent acquisition of a new Airbus A330 for President Bola Tinubu.
The BBJ, originally acquired during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, is now listed for sale on Controller, a global aircraft sales platform, and is currently undergoing inspections at AMAC Aerospace in Basel, Switzerland.
The listing invites interested buyers to contact AMAC Aerospace directly for the asking price.
The disposal comes months after the government acquired the Airbus A330 at a cost of $100 million (over ₦150 billion), a move that drew public criticism for its perceived extravagance amid economic hardship.
According to sources close to the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF), the BBJ has accumulated more than $5 million in maintenance bills—nearly half of the $10 million liability inherited from the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Although aircraft performance is not necessarily affected by age, older jets require more expensive maintenance. The BBJ, manufactured in 1998 and originally priced at $36 million for the unfinished model, now sells for $41 million used and over $70 million for a new unit.
The Presidential Fleet comprises six aircraft and six helicopters. These include:
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1 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) — now listed for sale
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1 Gulfstream G550 — 14 years old, serviceable
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1 Gulfstream GV — 24 years old, unserviceable
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2 Falcon 7Xs — one serviceable, one unserviceable
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1 Challenger CL605 — 13 years old, serviceable
The BBJ on sale is configured to carry 33 passengers and 8 crew, boasting a five-zone luxury layout:
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Zone 1: Crew rest with two crew seats and two cabin attendant seats.
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Zone 2: VIP stateroom featuring a bed, two-place divan, and private lavatory.
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Zone 3: Four-seat VIP conference lounge.
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Zone 4: Nine forward-facing first-class seats.
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Zone 5: Eighteen forward-facing business-class seats.
In 2023, the Federal Government announced its intention to sell three aircraft from the fleet but acquired the new Airbus before the disposal of the old jets.
Apart from the BBJ, there are ongoing plans to sell one Gulfstream jet and a Falcon 7X to reduce operational costs.
Aviation analysts estimate that the BBJ could fetch between $25 million and $41 million depending on its flight history, while used Gulfstreams range between $12 million and $15 million.
