Why we are in debt – Presidential Air Fleet
The Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) says it is indebted to service providers due to low budget allocations it has been given over the years to fund its operation.
PAF Commander Abubakar Abdulahi said so on Thursday during a monitoring visit by the House of Representatives National Security and Intelligence Committee to his base in Abuja.
Mr. Abdulahi, who was represented by Fleet Operations Officer Ahmed Dari, said the PAF had suffered budget cuts which had affected its ability to meet its obligations.
He said the fleet submitted a total budget of N18,767,393,235 but only N12,550,18,732 was approved in the Appropriation Act, while N10,907,642,492 was released in December 2021.
Mr. Dari added that in 2022, the fleet proposed the sum of N19,479,313,645 but N12,476,607,142 was finally approved.
He informed the committee that a large percentage of his cost is for the maintenance of aircraft in the fleet.
“Please note that the shortfall in overhead generally affects the aircraft maintenance activities of the fleet. The inadequacy of this provision has been brought to the attention of the respected commission as it always has summer during the budget defense and control visit.
"I would like to draw your attention to the fact that aircraft maintenance, which represents 46% of the overall budget proposal, is an integral part of overhead.
"As a result, the lack of overhead has greatly affected the aircraft maintenance activities of the fleet. Some mandatory upgrades have been carried out on credit on the fleet's long-standing relationship with maintenance companies, while others were transferred to the budget of the year 2023,” he said.
The officer further explained that "debts from previous years are usually carried over to the next year and this has become the tradition.
“Let me also say that most of these debts are owed by overseas service providers. is further reduced.
“It is important to note that the average age of planes in the presidential air fleet is 11 years and in aviation, maintenance increases proportionally with the age of the planes. fleet, the cost of maintaining each aircraft ranges between $1.5 million and $4.5 million, depending on the level of maintenance."
Mr. Dari informed the Committee that in 2023 the fleet is expected to make more voyages due to the elections.
"In addition, 2023 is an election year which translates into more missions and space demands for the aircraft due to increased utilization," he said.
p>Speaking on behalf of the committee, Sha'aban Sharada (ADP, Kano), its chairman, commended the fleet for the efficient execution of its activities.
He said, "The committee will do everything in its power to help the fleet meet these challenges."
There have been controversies surrounding the presidential air fleet in the recent past.
In 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari came on board, he promised Nigerians that his administration would reduce the number of planes (on the PAF) inherited from former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) says it is indebted to service providers due to low budget allocations it has been given over the years to fund its operation.
PAF Commander Abubakar Abdulahi said so on Thursday during a monitoring visit by the House of Representatives National Security and Intelligence Committee to his base in Abuja.
Mr. Abdulahi, who was represented by Fleet Operations Officer Ahmed Dari, said the PAF had suffered budget cuts which had affected its ability to meet its obligations.
He said the fleet submitted a total budget of N18,767,393,235 but only N12,550,18,732 was approved in the Appropriation Act, while N10,907,642,492 was released in December 2021.
Mr. Dari added that in 2022, the fleet proposed the sum of N19,479,313,645 but N12,476,607,142 was finally approved.
He informed the committee that a large percentage of his cost is for the maintenance of aircraft in the fleet.
“Please note that the shortfall in overhead generally affects the aircraft maintenance activities of the fleet. The inadequacy of this provision has been brought to the attention of the respected commission as it always has summer during the budget defense and control visit.
"I would like to draw your attention to the fact that aircraft maintenance, which represents 46% of the overall budget proposal, is an integral part of overhead.
"As a result, the lack of overhead has greatly affected the aircraft maintenance activities of the fleet. Some mandatory upgrades have been carried out on credit on the fleet's long-standing relationship with maintenance companies, while others were transferred to the budget of the year 2023,” he said.
The officer further explained that "debts from previous years are usually carried over to the next year and this has become the tradition.
“Let me also say that most of these debts are owed by overseas service providers. is further reduced.
“It is important to note that the average age of planes in the presidential air fleet is 11 years and in aviation, maintenance increases proportionally with the age of the planes. fleet, the cost of maintaining each aircraft ranges between $1.5 million and $4.5 million, depending on the level of maintenance."
Mr. Dari informed the Committee that in 2023 the fleet is expected to make more voyages due to the elections.
"In addition, 2023 is an election year which translates into more missions and space demands for the aircraft due to increased utilization," he said.
p>Speaking on behalf of the committee, Sha'aban Sharada (ADP, Kano), its chairman, commended the fleet for the efficient execution of its activities.
He said, "The committee will do everything in its power to help the fleet meet these challenges."
There have been controversies surrounding the presidential air fleet in the recent past.
In 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari came on board, he promised Nigerians that his administration would reduce the number of planes (on the PAF) inherited from former President Goodluck Jonathan.
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