Nigeria’s Presidential Jet Withdrawn from Sale

The company handling the sale of Nigeria’s presidential Boeing 737-700 Business Jet has withdrawn the aircraft from the market.

The jet, which was previously listed on the company’s website, could no longer be found when our correspondent visited.

In an email response to The PUNCH, JetHQ’s Manager of Market Research, Laurie Barringer, confirmed that the company no longer has the jet listed for sale and advised that inquiries should be directed to the Nigerian government for further information.

Thank you for your email. We no longer have the Boeing listed. You will need to contact the Nigerian Government for information regarding what has become of the aircraft. I appreciate your time — Laurie Barringer, Manager of Market Research, JetHQ,” the email read.

The media aide to the National Security Adviser, Ismail Garba, had promised a response but had yet to provide one several days later.

This development comes after The PUNCH reported in October 2025 that the jet, listed by the Federal Government in July 2025, remained unsold nearly four months after it was uploaded on the international aircraft sales platform.

At the time, email exchanges between our correspondent and JetHQ indicated that the aircraft was still available.

JetHQ’s Market Research Assistant, Marinell Nuevo, confirmed that the jet “remains available” but referred all further inquiries to Barringer.

Barringer later stated that the firm would not disclose details beyond the availability, describing such information as proprietary.

We do not provide this kind of information to anyone except the direct owner of the aircraft. This is considered proprietary information. I hope you understand,” she said.

Before its delisting, records showed that the jet underwent partial refurbishment and inspections at AMAC’s Basel facility in July 2024, including first-class seat refurbishment, cabin carpet replacement, and major C1–C2 inspections.

The aircraft was purchased in 2005 for $43 million during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure and has remained part of the Presidential Air Fleet.

In July 2025, the Tinubu administration announced plans to sell the jet as part of a cost-cutting and fleet rationalization strategy, amid growing public scrutiny of government spending.