Nigeria’s N150bn Presidential Jet Returns from South Africa with New Green-White-Green Livery
Nigeria’s newly acquired Airbus A330-200 presidential jet, purchased for N150 billion ($100 million), has returned to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on July 16, 2025, after undergoing a full livery change to Nigeria’s green-white-green colors in South Africa.
The aircraft, registered as 5N-FGA, was photographed by aviation-tracking account @Abuja_Aviation on Instagram on July 17, 2025, parked at the Presidential Wing. The twin-engine, wide-body jet features an all-white fuselage with green-white-green stripes along its length and the Nigerian Air Force crest near the cockpit windows.
A presidency official, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization, confirmed the jet’s return, stating: “Yes, they have returned the aircraft after the painting and minor touch-ups to the inside.” The official noted that the jet, operated by the Nigerian Air Force’s 001 Squadron, will resume presidential duties after routine acceptance checks. Footage from the State House on July 18, 2025, showed President Bola Tinubu boarding the aircraft for a visit to Kano State, with upcoming condolence visits planned in Ogun State following the death of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, on July 13, 2025.
The jet, acquired in August 2024 from a European leasing firm, was sent to South Africa in February 2025 for repainting and refurbishment to reflect the presidential office’s livery, as its interim commercial colors lacked the national design. An official explained: “The last I heard is that they took it abroad, I think to South Africa, to change the body design. You know it doesn’t have the green-white-green.” Another added: “It’s not only the body paint. I learned they are doing some refurbishment on it.” The 15-year-old ACJ330-200 (MSN 1053) includes a master bedroom, shower, conference room, and secure communications suite, offering a 13-hour flight range for non-stop trips from Abuja to New York or Beijing.
The purchase, funded through service-wide votes, faced criticism from the National Assembly, opposition, and citizens due to Nigeria’s economic challenges. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, defended the acquisition, stating: “It will save Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.” The jet replaces a 20-year-old Boeing 737-700 Business Jet, acquired for $43 million in 2005 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, which is now listed for sale in Switzerland through JetHQ, per details from Controller.com.
The repaint cost was not disclosed but is estimated at $190,000–$320,000, based on industry standards for a wide-body like the A330, requiring 250–300 liters of polyurethane topcoat for its 2,323 square meters of surface area. The Presidential Air Fleet, one of Africa’s largest with about 11 aircraft, includes a Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7Xs, a Hawker 4000, and a Challenger 605, with three fixed-wing aircraft reportedly unserviceable, plus two Agusta 139s and two Agusta 101s helicopters.
