ABUJA — Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dino Melaye, has criticised the reported increase in the number of aircraft attached to Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet under President Bola Tinubu, describing the development as excessive given the country’s economic challenges.
Melaye, a former senator representing Kogi West, raised the issue in a statement published on his verified X handle, where he questioned the reported expansion of the presidential fleet while arguing that Nigeria remains a poor country with significant economic pressures.
The ADC chieftain described the reported increase as “ridiculous” and expressed concern about the number of aircraft now associated with the Presidential Air Fleet.
Melaye also contrasted the reported expansion of the presidential fleet with the activities of the Nigerian Air Force, claiming that the military branch did not take delivery of a single aircraft throughout 2025.
According to the former senator, the Bola Tinubu administration has reportedly increased the number of aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet by five in less than four years.
He described the reported figure as record-breaking and questioned the justification for expanding the presidential fleet at a time when Nigerians continue to face economic difficulties.
“This is ridiculous, to say the least, for a country as poor as Nigeria,” Melaye said.
In listing the aircraft he referred to, Melaye identified five planes by their registration numbers and aircraft types.
They include 5N-FGY, which he identified as a brand-new Bombardier GL7T; T7-FGQ, which he described as a three-year-old Pilatus PC-24; and 5N-FGA, identified as an Airbus A330.
His list also included M-FGNG and M-NGSA, both of which he identified as Gulfstream G500 aircraft.
The former senator further alleged that the five aircraft had different ownership or acquisition arrangements.
According to Melaye, three of the aircraft carrying Nigerian registrations beginning with “5N” were purchased outright by the Federal Government.
He said the other two aircraft had reportedly been leased to the Federal Government by a private company, although the rates associated with those leases had not been disclosed.
The claims have placed renewed attention on the size and cost of Nigeria’s presidential aviation arrangements, particularly in the context of wider concerns over government expenditure.
Melaye’s criticism focused on what he considers to be a disproportionate expansion of the presidential fleet. His comments also linked the issue to what he described as the country’s poor economic condition.
The ADC chieftain did not provide further details in his statement about the reported purchase prices of the aircraft or the undisclosed terms of the alleged leases.
His reference to the Nigerian Air Force’s aircraft acquisitions was also used to question what he portrayed as a contrast between spending on presidential aviation and the military’s aviation capabilities.
The criticism comes amid continued political debate over government expenditure and the management of public resources under the Tinubu administration. Political figures and other commentators have frequently scrutinised government spending, particularly where it involves high-value assets and official privileges.
Melaye’s latest comments therefore centre on whether the reported expansion of the Presidential Air Fleet represents appropriate government expenditure or an unnecessary financial burden on the country.
While the aircraft registrations and acquisition arrangements cited by Melaye form the basis of his criticism, his broader argument is that the reported increase should be viewed against Nigeria’s economic realities.
The former senator maintained that expanding the presidential fleet by five aircraft in less than four years would represent an unusually rapid increase, particularly when compared with his claim concerning aircraft deliveries to the Nigerian Air Force during 2025.
He also drew attention to the fact that two of the aircraft he listed were reportedly leased rather than purchased, with the financial terms of those arrangements not publicly disclosed in his statement.
For Melaye, the combination of new aircraft purchases and reported leases raises questions about the priorities of the Federal Government and the use of public resources.
His comments are likely to keep the issue of Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet within the broader political discussion over government expenditure, accountability and the balance between official requirements and the country’s economic circumstances.
The former Kogi West senator concluded his criticism by maintaining that the reported expansion was difficult to justify in a country he described as poor, making the size of the presidential fleet a matter that deserved public scrutiny.
‘It’s Ridiculous’ — Dino Melaye Criticises Increase in Presidential Air Fleet
