Politicians gearing up for the 2027 general election face an unexpected hurdle on the campaign trail—a dwindling fleet of private jets available for hire.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio raised the alarm on Tuesday, warning that securing charter aircraft is becoming increasingly difficult for political leaders. Speaking during a Senate plenary, Akpabio noted that the current shortage will only intensify as the busy December travel season approaches, putting even greater strain on domestic aviation logistics.
Expressing frustration over the state of the industry, the Senate President insisted it is high time Nigeria restores a functional national carrier to carry the nation’s flag across global skies once more. He drew a stark contrast between today’s aircraft deficit and the heyday of the defunct Nigeria Airways, which operated nearly 40 aircraft—including heavy-duty DC-10s flying routes to destinations like Saudi Arabia.
“How did we get here?” Akpabio asked the chamber, questioning how decades of decay crippled what was once a thriving fleet.
The discussion unfolded during a broader Senate debate over a motion presented by Chief Whip Tahir Monguno (Borno North). Monguno urged the Federal Government to overhaul Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with China to permit local airlines to operate direct commercial routes. He emphasized that direct flights would slash transit times, preserve vital foreign exchange, and streamline trade between both nations.
Joining the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) pointed out that Nigeria continues to miss out on the full economic potential of its bilateral relationship with China despite the country’s huge market influence.
The Senate resolved to direct the Ministry of Aviation to renegotiate air service terms with China to establish seamless, direct flight routes.
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