The Labour Party Presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s consideration of adding new aircraft to the existing Presidential fleet.
This condemnation comes in response to a recent recommendation by the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence for the Federal Government to purchase new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima. This recommendation followed an investigation into the current status of the aircraft in the presidential air fleet.
Just a few months ago, three planes from the Presidential Air Fleet were marked for sale. Obi, reacting on his X handle on Monday, expressed his dismay at the government’s contemplation of new jet purchases amidst a severe economic crisis characterized by hyperinflation, a devaluing currency, and widespread poverty. He labeled the decision as a blatant display of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.
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“This demonstrates extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles,” Obi stated. “With rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness, this decision highlights the disconnect that is apparent between the government and the people. It is unacceptable as the situation in the country today more than ever demands a more compassionate use of resources, prioritizing citizens’ welfare.”
Obi pointed out that the presidential jets have an average age of 12 years, purchased when the economic conditions allowed most Nigerians to afford basic necessities. Given the current high debt profile and significant economic challenges, he argued that the government should focus on alleviating the citizens’ suffering rather than enhancing its luxuries.
The former Anambra governor also criticized past expenditures on presidential amenities, citing the $2 million refurbishment of the old Vice President’s residence, and contrasted it with the U.S., where the Vice President’s residence, over 100 years old, has only undergone extensive renovations twice, in 1993 and 2021, funded by taxpayers. He suggested that minor refurbishments in the U.S. are personally financed by the incoming Vice Presidents.
“It is, therefore, time to stop this impunity, insensitivity, and shamelessness and refocus on the needs of our people. We must prioritize education, healthcare, and lifting our citizens out of poverty. Let us work together to build a nation that truly serves its people, not just the interests of a few,” he stated.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has more than 87 million people living below the poverty line, making it the second-largest poor population globally after India, a country with seven times Nigeria’s population. The World Bank has forecasted that the already dire poverty rates will rise further due to punishing inflation.
The economic crisis has pushed Nigerians to extreme measures to survive. A scathing report from The New York Times on Nigeria’s economic woes, which the government defensively rebutted, painted a grim picture of widespread suffering. The report highlighted unions striking over meager salaries of around $20 a month, fatal stampedes for free rice, and hospitals overwhelmed with patients suffering from nutritional deficiencies.
Last week, nationwide strike resulted in the shutdown of hospitals, courts, schools, airports, and even the Parliament, in a bid to force the government to increase the minimum wage.
In a desperate attempt to survive, many Nigerians are turning to crypto-mining games known as ‘the tapping craze’, which promise income based on the time spent playing. This phenomenon has become so pervasive that people engage in these activities everywhere, including during prayers, at schools, and even at funerals.
“People tap as they pray, in mosques and churches. Children tap under desks at school. Mourners tap at funerals,” the NYT reported, illustrating the lengths to which Nigerians are going to eke out a living.
Amidst this economic turmoil, the Nigerian government has yet to develop a clear-cut economic plan to tackle the challenges. The absence of a coherent strategy to address hyperinflation, falling currency, and widespread poverty leaves the populace in a state of uncertainty and despair. This lack of direction further compounds the economic woes and heightens the frustration among Nigerians, who feel increasingly disconnected from their leaders.
The decision to contemplate the purchase of new presidential aircraft at such a time has, therefore, been met with widespread criticism. Obi, alongside many Nigerians, views the government’s plan to prioritize the purchase of new planes for the president and vice president as predatory and disconnected from the urgent needs of the populace.