President Bola Tinubu on Saturday December 20 left the FCT for Borno, Bauchi and Lagos aboard the 20-year-old Boeing 737 Business Jet earlier listed for sale in July but delisted months later due to poor buyer interest and lowball offers.
Prior to the President’s visit, Borno State Police Command stated it had sent out tactical teams, surveillance squads, and members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit to guarantee sufficient security in the state.
At 11:45 a.m., Tinubu departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja to begin a multi-state working visit and holiday tour. During the trip, he would inaugurate projects in Maiduguri, visit the family of the late Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in Bauchi to offer condolences, and celebrate Yuletide in Lagos.
The Obasanjo-era jet (tail number 5N-FGT) was used by the President, confirming its unexpected return to active duty after an earlier attempt to sell it was unsuccessful.
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After months of fruitless attempts to get rid of the outdated aircraft, the Federal Government removed it from the international sales platform run by US marketing company JetHQ in early December.
The 20-year-old BBJ was purchased in 2005 for $43 million under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. It was used by several administrations until August 2024, when the Tinubu administration received a rebuilt Airbus A330-200.
It was listed in July as part of the Tinubu administration’s cost-cutting drive. That month, the plane was used to convey the remains of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari from London to Daura for burial.
Tinubu is also anticipated to attend the wedding ceremony of Sadeeq Sheriff, son of former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, and his bride, Hadiza Kam Salem.
Watch the video here:
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