There are indications that Nigeria’s Boeing 737 Presidential jet, NAF 001, has been flown out of Abuja for comprehensive maintenance abroad.
The presidential jet which has served President Muhammadu Buhari, in the past eight years was flown out of the nation’s capital at the weekend.
Past maintenance on the aircraft had been carried out by its manufacturer, Boeing, in the United States of America and the latest one is likely to be carried out by the same manufacturer.
Boeing’s military aircraft division builds modified 737 planes at its manufacturing facilities in Everett and Renton, Washington (outside of Seattle), and South Carolina.
The 20-year-old aircraft last flew the President to Accra, the Ghanaian Capital, where he attended a Summit of the Gulf of Guinea Commission last month.
President Buhari will in the next few weeks ahead of his handing over to President-elect Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023, fly in another aircraft in the presidential fleet whenever he needs to travel.
One of the forthcoming engagements of the President is the coronation of King Charles III in London, the United Kingdom due this month and he is expected to be flown in one of the planes in the presidential fleet.
Contacted on the issue, presidential spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, confirmed on telephone on Sunday evening that the presidential jet NAF 001, which was due for maintenance has indeed gone for comprehensive maintenance overseas.
According to him: “It is true the presidential jet has gone for comprehensive maintenance which may last for one or two months depending on how long the exercise will last”.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
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