Nigeria is selling its presidential jet, a 19.1-year-old VIP-configured B737-700(BBJ), for an undisclosed price, according to advertisements posted online.
ADS-B data shows that 5N-FGT (msn 34260) was ferried from Abuja to Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg, CH in Switzerland on March 25. The Boeing aircraft was delivered to the Nigerian government in July 2005 and has been operated by the Nigerian Air Force (NGR, Lagos) since then.
According to the listing, the aircraft underwent B1 (mechanics - engines and airframes) and B2 (avionics - instrumentation, electrical/electronic equipment) inspections, plus C1 and C2 maintenance by AMAC Aerospace in Basel in July 2024. The twinjet has clocked up 3,821 flying hours and 1,881 landings. It comes equipped with two CFM International CFM56 engines.
The plane accommodates 41 people - 33 passengers and eight crew - in a five-zone cabin seating layout. The VIP configuration includes nine first-class seats and 18 business-class seats, a stateroom with a shower, and a VIP lounge. Partial refurbishment in 2024 included a complete upgrade of its first- and business-class seats.
As ch-aviation previously reported, the Nigerian federal government has replaced the Boeing with a foreclosed ACJ330-200, VP-CAC (msn 1053), now 5N-FGA.
The new acquisition comes after the Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence recommended acquiring new aircraft for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima due to high maintenance costs and operational issues with the current presidential fleet, which is operated by the Nigerian Air Force but overseen by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The presidential fixed-wing fleet also comprises the vice president's 13-year-old Gulfstream Aerospace G55, a Gulfstream G500, two Falcon 7X, a Hawker 4000, and a Challenger 605, though three of these aircraft are reportedly unserviceable and will be sold off as well.
