Ridiculous’ — Dino Melaye Blasts Presidential Jet Fleet Expansion

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, has criticised the reported expansion of Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet, describing the development as “ridiculous” amid the country’s economic challenges.

Melaye raised the issue in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Monday, where he questioned the reported addition of five aircraft to the presidential fleet under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The former Kogi West senator contrasted the reported 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.

He listed five aircraft which 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.

The aircraft listed by Melaye are:

– 5N-FGY — Bombardier Global 7000
– T7-FGQ — Pilatus PC-24
– 5N-FGA — Airbus A330
– M-FGNG — Gulfstream G500
– M-NGSA — Gulfstream G500

According to the ADC chieftain, 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.

He said the terms and costs of the reported leases had not been made public.

Melaye’s criticism centres on the reported increase in the presidential fleet at a time when the country continues to face pressure over public spending and security challenges.

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 questions about government priorities.