society
Private Jet Operators Eye Bumper Profits As 2019 Campaigns Begins
Indications emerged on Friday that private jet operators (charter airlines) were bracing for harvests of bumper profits as political parties and politicians begin their campaigns for the 2019 general elections on Sunday.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission election schedule, political parties will begin their campaigns on Sunday, November 18, 2018, which is approximately three months before the general elections scheduled for February next year.
The Peoples Democratic Party has reportedly said it would begin its campaign on Monday.
Some of the major charter jet firms in the country are: Skyjet Aviation, Skypower Express, Izy Air, Max Air, Dana Aviation, Jed Air, Anap Jets, Execujet, West Link Aviation, Dana Air, Arik Air, Overland Airways, Airstream Aviation and Air First Aviation.
Saturday PUNCH findings revealed that aside from some prominent politicians who leased private jets from overseas for the campaigns, charter jet operators numbering over 15 currently parade at least 40 private aircraft in their fleets.
For example, Skyjet Aviation, which has its base in Kaduna and Abuja, has about five private jets in its fleet. These are: Hawker 900XP, Hawker 800XP, Embraer Legacy 650 and two Learjet
Kaduna-based Dana Aviation has three Dornier 328 aircraft, while Lagos-based Dana Air has about two Learjer45 for charter. Lagos-based Execujet is said to have about eight private jets in partnership with some smaller operators in its fleet. Some of the brands of jets in its fleet are Embraer Legacy 650, Hawker Siddley 125 and Canadian-made Bombardier Challenger 604.
Abuja-based Izy Air also has the Challenger 604 jet and another aircraft, while West Link Aviation also parade a Challenger 604 and other airplanes in its fleet.
Lagos-based Airstream has two aircraft in its fleet, while Max Air is said to have three private jets in its fleet, namely two Learjet and one Embraer Legacy 600.
Some of the private jet operators, who spoke to our correspondent under condition of anonymity for fear of losing patronage because politicians prefer to keep their use of hired private jets secret, said business was picking up already.
They confirmed that orders were already coming in ahead of the three-month period.
A former General Secretary of Airline Operators of Nigeria, the umbrella body for charter airline operators and scheduled carriers, Capt Muhammed Joji, said politicians and parties were going to depend on charter jet firms over the next three months to reach various parts of the country for political gatherings and campaigns.
Joji, who is also the managing director of Skypower Express, a charter airline, advised other players in the segment to ensure their jets “are able to fly for about 200 hours without going for any major maintenance overseas within the next three months.”
He said, “Political parties and politicians have their programmes scheduled already during this period; they won’t entertain any disappointment at the last minute this period. My advice to every operator is to make sure every jet in their fleet is free from any major maintenance over the next three months.”
The Chief Operating Officer, Airstream Aviation, Captain Ken Wemambu, while confirming slight upsurge in orders for private jet flights, said flight activities were already picking up in the charter jet segment.
He said, “Business is picking up, especially for operators who are based in Abuja. We expect better revenue over the next three months of the campaign.”
“Aside the charter jet firms, aviation fuel vendors and ancillary service providers in the charter segment of the aviation industry will benefit from the surge in traffic.
The Managing Director, Air First Aviation, a firm that provides charter, cargo and consultancy services, Mr. Gbolahan Abatan, said the season charter operators were looking forward to had finally come and hopes were high that private jet firms would make better revenue during the period.
Abatan added, “In the previous elections especially in 2011 and 2015, political parties and politicians hired private jets freely because there was boom in the economy. Economic activities are slow now even though this may not affect some politicians.”
According to findings by our correspondent, charter firms who use to record at least one or two flights a week with each flight lasting between three and four hours may now record about four to five flights in a week with each one lasting between four and eight hours depending on the nature of the political gathering, meeting on campaigns.
Some operators told our correspondent that as soon as the campaigns get to the peak, operators may have some of their jets engaged for days and sometimes weeks.
Private jet firms charge $6,000 per hour
Findings revealed that private jets flights charged their clients in dollars and payments were also made in dollars.
Operators told our correspondent under condition of anonymity for fear of backlash that they often charge between $4,500 and $6,500 per hour for their services.
They said charges used to be between $6,000 and $10,000 per hour but the economic downturn in the economy and the present government’s anti-corruption war stance and witch-hunt of political opponents had led to sharp drop in business in the past three years.
The downturn in business, it was learnt, had made some foreign players in the charter business especially the United Kingdom-based Hangar8 and the Switzerland-based Vistajets to leave the country.
VistaJets was the company a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, paid millions of dollars to fly its jets during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Currently, smaller jets like Hawker Siddley 125-800 goes for between $4,500 and $5,000 per hour, while upscale jets like United States-made Gulfstream 450 series and Canadian-made Bombardier Challenger 605 series go for between $5,500 and $6,500 per hour. Brazilian-made Embraer Legacy 650, according to findings, go for about $5,000 per hour.
The Managing Director of Anap Jets, Capt. Akin George, said its firm was positioned to serve all manner of clients regardless of their affiliation.
Giving further details, the Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Anap Jets, Gbemi Abudu, said, “Anap Jets is a private jet operator that focuses on fractional ownership, ad hoc charter and aircraft management. We are dedicated to providing efficient and reliable solutions to meet the business aviation needs of our clients. Therefore, we are always available to cater to the needs of our clientele.”
Elections: FG orders security agencies to begin search of private jets, passengers
Meanwhile, the Federal Government may have ordered security agencies to begin search of private jets and their passengers as the 2019 campaigns and other electioneering activities begin.
It was learnt that security agencies including the operatives of the Department of State Services, Immigration, Customs and the Special Task Force on Currency at the nation’s airports and private terminals would soon begin to search every private jet and their occupants before departures and after arrivals.
Multiple security sources at the Lagos and Abuja airports confirmed the development.
They were told that as the 2019 elections were drawing near, intelligence reports had shown that politicians might be trying to move funds both in local and foreign currencies via their private jets or hired planes to prosecute the campaigns and elections.
They said the development informed the decision to search the private jet of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, at the Abuja airport last Sunday shortly after his arrival from Dubai where he had gone for vacation.
It was, however, learnt that the decision to search Atiku’s jet was a specific order from the Federal Government, even though the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, claimed it was a routine search usually conducted on all arriving passengers.
“Even though it is within our laws that security agencies can search private jets and their occupants, security agencies have not been doing this. It may be because there were no threats in the past. What I can say is that the search of Atiku’s jet is political because it is not the usual practice; the chief executive officer of an Abuja-based charter flight operator told our correspondent under condition of anonymity.
NCAA beef up security at private jet terminals, hangars
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the aviation industry regulator, Capt Muktar Usman, has said the Federal Government will beam its searchlight on all private jet terminals and private jet flights as campaigns towards the 2019 elections begin.
He said every election season was usually characterised with increased level of activities in the private and charter jet segment of the aviation sector and the agency would ensure no infraction is committed by any politician, party or charter operator.
Usman said, “We are all aware that as we are approaching the election season, there would be more movements in the private and charter flights segment. We are aware there are more movements, so the monitoring should be more. We are taking all those things into consideration. It’s part of our own oversight responsibility and we are taking things very seriously. So, we are monitoring to ensure that standards are met and adhered to.
Punch.
Ajadi Rejects Pay Rise For President, Others, Says Proposal Insensitive To Nigerians Suffer
A South West Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP) has said that he rejects the reported plan by the Federal Government to raise the salaries of political office holders, including the President, Vice-President, Ministers and others, saying such move is insensitive to the current plights of Nigerians due to the present economic challenges.
Ajadi said many Nigerians are groaning under unprecedented hardship due to the harsh economy, saying what is expected of the political office holders is to make sacrifices.
It could be recalled that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC) has hinted at plans to review the salaries of political office holders in Nigeria, describing current earnings as inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated in the face of rising responsibilities and economic challenges.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu presently earns N1.5m monthly, while ministers receive less than N1m, figures that have remained unchanged since 2008.
According to Shehu, “You are paying the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria N1.5m a month, with a population of over 200 million people. Everybody believes that it is a joke.
“You cannot pay a minister less than N1m per month since 2008 and expect him to put in his best without necessarily being involved in some other things. You pay either a CBN governor or the DG ten times more than you pay the President. That is just not right. Or you pay him [the head of an agency] twenty times higher than the Attorney-General of the Federation. That is absolutely not right”.
However, Ajadi in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, said at a time when reforms demand sacrifice, this proposal smacks of greed, tone-deafness and moral bankruptcy.
Ajadi said a progressive government in moments of economic crisis like Nigeria is currently going through will reduce the cost of governance rather than inflate it.
According to him, it is insensitive to increase political office holders’ salaries while workers have been struggling for a living wage without appropriate response from the governments.
“The proposed increase in salaries of the President, Vice and other political office holders at this time of economic hardship will amount to insensitivity to the plights of ordinary Nigerians
“The current Workers’ minimum wages is not enough to provide the means of livelihood for any worker. The inflation is biting harder on Nigerians. Contrary to the poor conditions of Nigerians, political office holders are flashing their riches, and displaying their wealth openly with utter disregard to the conditions of ordinary citizens. To now increase the salaries of these political office holders will not augur well for our country.
“In countries where the economy is bad, what obtained is for the political office holders to reduce their earnings as a sacrifice. It is with this that they will have the moral right to preach to ordinary citizens to make.sacrifice.
“In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her cabinet reduced their pay by 20% during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the 2008 financial crisis, Ireland slashed ministerial and parliamentary salaries by as much as 30%.
“In the midst of Greece’s sovereign debt crisis, ministers and the Members of Parliament took salaries cuts in solidarity with citizens.
“True leaders tight their belts first before asking citizens to bear the burden of reform. For Nigeria’s political class to even consider “jumbo salaries” at a time of rising inflation, subsidy removal, unemployment and worsening poverty is unconscionable.
“RMAFC must immediately drop this self-serving scheme.What the nation requires today is fiscal discipline, leadership by sacrifice, not political overlords fattening themselves while citizens starve”.
Fubara Behind Campaign of Calumny Against Tinubu Over Rivers Emergency Rule – CJD
The Coalition for Justice and Democracy (CJD) has accused the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, of orchestrating a campaign of calumny against President Bola Tinubu as revenge for the declaration of emergency rule in the state.
In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday and signed by its president, Comrade Raymond Aighona, the coalition alleged that Fubara was also behind the circulation of a document on social media which falsely accused the Sole Administrator of Rivers, Ibok-Eket Ibas, of mismanaging half a trillion naira and inflating contracts under the guise of funding President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The group dismissed the allegations as “baseless blackmail”, insisting that the sole administrator had acted strictly within the limits of the emergency powers granted him and under the constant oversight of committees set up by both chambers of the National Assembly to monitor Rivers during the emergency rule.
“Siminalayi Fubara has chosen the path of bitterness and deceit. He has not forgiven President Tinubu for saving Rivers State from total political anarchy through the declaration of emergency rule. Now, in an act of reckless vengeance, he is sponsoring falsehoods, pushing forged documents, and trying to smear the reputation of the President and the sole administrator. These antics will not succeed,” Aighona declared.
The CJD said it had carried out its own checks and found no evidence to support the claims of financial recklessness being circulated online against Ibas.
“Every action of the Sole Administrator is monitored by oversight committees from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. His expenditures are scrutinised and subjected to due process. For anyone to claim that he single-handedly pulled out half a trillion naira from the coffers of Rivers State is not only laughable but deliberately mischievous,” the group added.
According to the CJD, the social media document, which alleged that inflated contracts were being used to bankroll the President’s 2027 campaign, bore “all the fingerprints of Fubara’s political desperation”.
“This is nothing but a forged narrative manufactured by those who lost relevance under the emergency rule. Fubara is the unseen hand behind these malicious reports. He hopes to poison the minds of Rivers people against President Tinubu and to discredit Ibas, whose steady leadership has restored calm and order to the state,” Aighona said.
The group further warned that such “propaganda politics” could inflame tensions and destabilise Rivers if not exposed for what it truly is.
“What Fubara is doing is reckless and dangerous. Rather than take responsibility for the failures of his short-lived administration, he is weaponising lies, sowing distrust, and dragging the President’s name into his personal vendetta. This is not only unfair to President Tinubu but also a betrayal of Rivers people who are finally enjoying stability after months of turmoil,” the statement continued.
The CJD praised Ibas for what it described as “disciplined and transparent stewardship” since his appointment as Sole Administrator.
“Ibas has not gone beyond his authority. He has been meticulous in carrying out his duties and has kept faith with the mandate to stabilise Rivers State. He deserves commendation, not blackmail. Anyone suggesting otherwise is only doing the bidding of embittered politicians like Fubara,” Aighona said.
The group called on security agencies to investigate the origin of the circulating document and to expose those behind the “malicious forgery”.
It also urged the Nigerian public to treat such reports with contempt, stressing that the claims were designed to smear the President and destabilise Rivers.
“There is no half-trillion naira missing from Rivers’ coffers. There are no inflated contracts funding the President’s re-election. These are lies from the pit of desperation. The real story is that Fubara, who has been constitutionally sidelined under emergency rule, is fighting back with propaganda. He must be called out,” the CJD stated.
The coalition reaffirmed its support for the emergency measures in Rivers, insisting that the intervention had prevented total collapse and restored a measure of peace and governance to the state.
“President Tinubu acted to save Rivers, not to exploit it. Ibas has executed that mandate with dignity. The blackmail campaign being funded by Fubara cannot erase these truths. Nigerians should see through his desperation and reject his propaganda,” Aighona advised.
Beyond Optics: Setting the Record Straight on Nigeria’s TICAD Booth
I feel compelled to clarify misconceptions around Nigeria’s so-called “unmanned booth” at TICAD, which has unfortunately become the subject of misleading commentary.
First, the space in question is not a national pavilion. It is a designated spillover area—typically used by delegates without access to the main auditorium to follow proceedings, hold side meetings, or work quietly. Countries may choose to convert such spaces into national showcases, but it is not compulsory. Any Nigerian delegate can use the space at any time. Several other countries also had similar spaces today that were quiet or lightly used. It is neither unusual nor a sign of disengagement.
Now, to the real issue: Nigeria is not in Japan for optics. Visibility is not the only metric. Value is.
While some chase appearances, Nigerian officials are working deliberately and with focus:
HM Pate is finalising a landmark health sector agreement with Japanese partners.
HM Power is advancing a major energy partnership.
BOI and BOA are deep in investment negotiations.
HM Foreign Affairs is leading ministerial-level engagements and aligning national plans.
Mr. President is meeting Japanese investors, Nigerian diaspora business leaders, development partners, and fellow heads of government.
The work is being done—quietly, strategically, and with impact.
So what purpose is served by amplifying an incomplete visual to imply national failure? Even if unintended, this kind of knee-jerk commentary can undermine progress and reinforce misrepresentation. Visibility should not be confused with value; applause is not the same as achievement.
Koko of the Matter: Nigeria’s space was not “unmanned” in the sense implied. We are under no obligation to adopt the performative routines of others. In diplomacy, presence is not always performance—and substance will always outweigh spectacle.
In line with TICAD’s structure, Nigeria’s space will see more active use on Day 2 and Day 3, which focus on Economy and Society, functioning as an open national stand accessible to all delegates.
Let us focus on outcomes, not optics—in the best interest of our country.
~ Otega #TheTiger Ogra
@NigeriaGov @NGRPresident @NigeriaMFA
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