News
Outrage Over Newly Acquired N150bn Presidential Jet Amid Ravaging Hardship
There is widespread anger following the unveiling of the new Airbus A330 presidential jet purchased by President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Recall that the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga had on Monday night, released the pictures of the presidential jet via his verified X handle.
According to him, the new jet replaces the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) which was acquired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his tenure.
Tinubu’s aide claimed that the new jet saved Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars annually.
Countering the claim that the jet was acquired without approval by the National Assembly, Onanuga said “the Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended replacing the ageing aircraft in the presidential fleet to reduce downtime and operational expenses”.
Our correspondent, however, reports that the claim does not align with earlier reports from the Nigerian Senate.
DAILY POST recalls that the Senate President Godswill Akpabio on June 27, declared that the upper chamber did not receive any request for the purchase of new aircraft for the president.
Nigerians had perceived the move by the presidency to get a new jet, but the Senate President vehemently debunked the report, saying there was nothing like that in their table.
Akpabio, who spoke after a closed-door meeting, said, “I have never had that correspondence to approve the purchase of a plane. We care about the President, we care about Nigerians.
“We will approve things that will benefit the people. There is nothing before us”.
Similarly the Senate leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) said, “There is no such request, if the request comes, not only the Senate will debate it, we are 469 here. So this is the handiwork of the fifth columnist and propagandists.”
DAILY POST reports that there was no parliamentary debate prior to the arrival of the exotic presidential jet.
Although the presidency deliberately omitted the price of the jet, it was gathered that the Nigerian government spent over $100 million (N159 billion) to acquire the Airbus A330.
This is coming amid the ravaging economic downturn that has relatively made feeding difficult for millions of citizens.
Recall that Nigerians had earlier in the month staged a 10-day nationwide protest over hunger.
The untoward hardship was birthed by some unfavorable policies of the President Tinubu-led administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy which was announced on May 29, 2023.
Concerned citizens who reacted to the procurement of the new jet, accused the government of neglecting the plight of the citizens.
No argument can justify this latest profligacy – Ezekwesili
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili on Wednesday said President Bola Tinubu has no argument to justify the purchase of the Airbus A330
Ezekwesili said no argument from Tinubu will persuade Nigerians into justifying what she termed “latest profligacy.”
Posting on X, Ezekwesili wrote: “No argument justifies the purchase of a 14 year old Airbus plane by the @NGRPresident @officialABAT for his indulgence.
“No argument that can persuade reasonable people justifies this latest profligacy.
“Continue with your obscene indulgence until the Day your hungry citizens can no longer bear to sleep on their empty stomachs.
Tinubu acting like Sani Abacha pro max – Adeyanju
Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju on Wednesday while reacting to the purchase of the new Presidential jet, an Escalade bulletproof vehicle, and a Yacht accused President Tinubu of acting like former Military Head of State, Sani Abacha pro max within one year of assuming power.
Posting on his Facebook page, Adeyanju wrote: “Critics don’t make good leaders. If in doubt, just look at Tinubu. The guy is acting like a Sani Abacha pro max just under one year. A hypocrite that can’t take what he gives.
“Just got back to Abuja from Lagos and saw Tinubu’s outrageously huge presidential jet.”
Tinubu bought private jet, bulletproof car in one year but Nigerians suffering – Sowore
A former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, on his part, knocked Tinubu’s government for procuring a Presidential jet and a bullet proof vehicle within one year in office despite the failure to tackle the economic crisis bedeviling Nigerians.
Sowore said Nigerian leaders were only concerned about meeting their personal desires and not what the citizens were going through.
The activist cum politician, who was one of the key organizers of the just concluded EndBadGovernance protests, disclosed this in a series of posts on his X page.
According to Sowore: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said one year isn’t enough for Nigerians to enjoy a better country but look at what he bought for himself in just one year.
“Yacht, jet, Bulletproof Escalade, mansion for VP #RevolutionNow.
“Day of fun at the expense of suffering Nigerians, @officialABAT jumbo luxury Presidential Jet arrives Nice, France. #France #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #FearlessInOctober #RevolutionNow
“The only thing that makes these thieving rulers in Nigeria happy is when they fulfil their personal desires; they don’t care about the people.
“It is the time for the people to bond and take them head-on. #FearlessInOctober #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria 2.0.”
They don’t care about us – LP chieftain, Okon Fredrick
Similarly, a chieftain of the Labour Party, Mr Okon Fredrick said the move by the government to purchase an exotic jet amid the hardship in the country showed that the government officials did not care about the citizens.
In a chat with DAILY POST, Okon said, “leadership is by example. Tinubu had consistently appealed to Nigerians to be patient with his government, yet he is not patient enough to continue using the old jet.
“Like the singer Micheal Jackson once said, ‘they don’t really care about us’, we are on our own. Nothing about us matters to them
“This is obviously the wrong time to be buying a presidential jet with such a huge amount of money. We just finished a round of protest trying to tell the government that we are dying of hunger.
“Just a few days after the protest was halted, the executive is flying a new jet of over N100 billion.
“The citizens are watching and one day, like Charly Boy usually says, their mumu go do.”
News
Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.
He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”
Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.
News
Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency
The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.
In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote
Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.
The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.
‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.
President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded
News
Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.
The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.
In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”
The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.
Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.
“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”
Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.
“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”
The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.
By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.
The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.
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