Tinubu Aide Defends Presidential Air Fleet Budget

In an interview with Channel TV, Fasua, an aide to President Tinubu, contended that comparing the budget for the Presidential Air Fleet to that of the Defence budget is inappropriate. He highlighted that the Nigerian Army's budget for purchasing security equipment is N20.56 billion, with only N1.46 billion disbursed as of December 31, 2025.

In contrast, the Presidential Air Fleet's budget of N20.27 billion has seen a 97.76% implementation rate. Fasua explained that operational costs for aircraft, including fuel and maintenance, are essential and cannot be halted.

He rejected the notion that the Defence sector is starved of funds, arguing that the comparison of recurrent and capital expenditures is illogical. Fasua maintained that the Defence sector is not abandoned and emphasized the need for proper financial management to ensure effective budget implementation amidst ongoing security challenges in Nigeria.