The Federal Government has allocated a total of N10.61 billion over three years to overhaul the engines of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s Gulfstream G550, registered as 5N-FGW. Analysis of appropriation bills from 2024 to 2026 shows the aircraft received the largest single allocation among engine overhaul projects in the Presidential Air Fleet, accounting for 55 per cent of the N19.27 billion spent on engine maintenance across the fleet during President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Budget documents show the allocation jumped from N1.24 billion in 2024 to N5.51 billion in 2025, before dropping to N3.86 billion in 2026. The aircraft, which flies under the call sign “Nigerian Air Force 2” when carrying the vice president, has faced repeated technical faults, forcing cancellations of Shettima’s trips to the United States and Samoa in 2024. Officials said these problems likely prompted urgent maintenance, driving the higher costs.
Other jets in the fleet also received funds for engine overhauls. Two Falcon 7X jets received a total of N6.98 billion over three years, while a Gulfstream jet, 5N-FGS, received N1.68 billion in 2024. Overall, engine maintenance costs across the fleet peaked in 2025 after the delivery of the N150 billion Airbus A330 for the president, which officials said would reduce future maintenance and fuel expenses.
Experts say aircraft age heavily affects costs. The Gulfstream G550 is 13 years old, and older jets require more frequent and expensive overhauls as critical components near the end of their lifespan. Complete engine overhauls for a G550 can cost between $1.5 million and $3 million per engine, and analysts note the budget likely covers more than routine maintenance.
The Presidential Air Fleet operates ten aircraft, including six jets and four helicopters. Critics argue the fleet is disproportionately large and costly given Nigeria’s fiscal constraints. While the president received a new Airbus A330, no replacement has been announced for the vice president’s aircraft, which continues to receive substantial maintenance allocations.
