The Federal Government has listed its nearly two-decade-old Boeing 737-700 Business Jet (BBJ) for sale through AMAC Aerospace in Basel, Switzerland.
The aircraft, acquired in 2005 for $43 million during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, has become increasingly expensive to maintain and is subject to safety scrutiny following a mechanical incident during an official trip to Saudi Arabia in April 2024.
The presidency stated that maintaining the BBJ has become increasingly expensive after 19 years of service.
A mechanical incident during an official trip to Saudi Arabia in April 2024 raised safety concerns.
President Bola Tinubu transitioned to a refurbished Airbus A330-200 last August amid economic concerns and public scrutiny.
The Features of the Aircraft-
Seating Capacity-33 passengers and 8 crew members, 5-Zone Seating Layout, Zone:1, Crew rest area with two crew rest seats and two cabin attendant seats, Zone:2,VIP stateroom with a bed, two-place divan, and private lavatory, Zone 3:VIP lounge configured as a four-seat conference room, Zone 4: Nine forward-facing first-class seats, Zone 5: Eighteen forward-facing business-class seats, Entertainment and Connectivity: Ka-Band Wi-Fi, 32-inch monitor in the master bedroom, and 21-inch monitors in the business-class cabin, Avionics Systems: Cutting-edge systems, including VHF communication radios, HF transceivers, and Honeywell’s EGPWS.
The aircraft underwent partial refurbishment in July 2024, including upgrades to its first-class seating and new carpeting.
B1-B2 inspections are currently being conducted at AMAC Aerospace in Basel, while C1-C2 inspections were completed in July 2024.
