Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress and former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Tinubu's administration over what he described as the "ridiculous" expansion of Nigeria's Presidential Air Fleet. In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Monday, August 31, 2026, Melaye questioned the reported addition of five aircraft to the presidential fleet under the current administration, contrasting the expansion with what he described as the failure of the Nigerian Air Force to take delivery of a single aircraft throughout 2025. "This is ridiculous, to say the least, for a country as poor as Nigeria," Melaye wrote.
The ADC chieftain listed the five aircraft he claimed had been added to the Presidential Air Fleet, including a brand-new Bombardier Global 7000, a three-year-old Pilatus PC-24, an Airbus A330, and two Gulfstream G500 aircraft. According to Melaye, three of the aircraft bearing Nigerian registrations were purchased outright by the Federal Government, while two others were reportedly leased to the government by a private company at undisclosed rates and terms. He listed the aircraft as 5N-FGY (Bombardier GL7T), T7-FGQ (Pilatus PC-24), 5N-FGA (Airbus A330), M-FGNG (Gulfstream G500), and M-NGSA (Gulfstream G500). Melaye argued that the size and cost of the presidential fleet deserved public scrutiny, particularly at a time when Nigerians are facing severe economic difficulties and security challenges.
Melaye's criticism centres on the reported increase in the presidential fleet at a time when the Nigerian Air Force reportedly did not receive any new aircraft during the whole of 2025. He argued that the disparity between the resources reportedly being committed to presidential air travel and the equipment available to the country's military raised serious questions about government priorities. The former senator maintained that expanding the presidential fleet was difficult to justify in a country where security agencies, including the Air Force, continue to require additional operational equipment to combat terrorism, banditry, and other forms of insecurity. The Federal Government has yet to publicly respond to Melaye's latest criticism or provide details on the acquisition and leasing arrangements surrounding the aircraft he identified.
Melaye's comments are likely to fuel the ongoing debate over government spending and the prioritisation of public resources, particularly expenditure associated with official travel and government aircraft. The controversy also comes amid wider calls for greater transparency in government procurement and expenditure, with civil society groups and opposition politicians frequently demanding that scarce public resources be directed towards areas with direct impact on citizens. The former senator's intervention also comes at a time when political parties are intensifying preparations for the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures increasingly vocal about the administration's spending priorities.
In addition to his criticism of the presidential fleet, Melaye also used the platform to rally opposition forces, stating that discussions among opposition political parties are ongoing and that the Nigeria Democratic Congress flagbearer, Peter Obi, and his counterpart in the Peoples Redemption Party, Donald Duke, have shown readiness to join the talks. He expressed confidence that the opposition would form a broad coalition capable of defeating President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in 2027. "By the grace of God, we will have a headway shortly. Discussions are ongoing, and the opposition will work together. We may not get 100% of everybody on board, but the majority of the opposition will come together and send Tinubu and the APC packing. You can take that from me: their days are numbered," Melaye declared.
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