The planned sale of one of Nigeria's presidential aircraft has encountered a significant hurdle. The United States-based marketing firm tasked with handling the sale has unexpectedly withdrawn the jet from its listings, casting doubt on the status of the entire transaction.
Jet Delisted, Questions Unanswered
The Boeing 737-700 Business Jet, which was advertised for sale on the website of the international broker JetHQ, has been removed from the platform. This development was confirmed by the company's Manager of Market Research, Laurie Barringer. In an email response to inquiries, Barringer stated that JetHQ was no longer managing the sale of the aircraft and directed further questions to the Nigerian Government.
The email read: "Thank you for your email. We no longer have the listing on the Boeing. You will need to reach out to the Nigerian Government for information as to what has become of the aircraft."
Efforts to get clarity from Nigerian officials have so far been unsuccessful. The media aide to the National Security Adviser, Ismail Garba, had promised to respond but had not done so several days after the commitment was made.
A Sale Long in the Making
This latest twist follows a report in October 2025 which revealed that the aircraft, first listed by the Federal Government in July 2025, had remained unsold for nearly four months. At that time, JetHQ's Market Research Assistant, Marinell Nuevo, confirmed the jet was "remains available" but referred detailed questions to Barringer.
Barringer had previously maintained that specific details about the aircraft were proprietary, telling journalists: "We do not provide this kind of information to anyone but the direct owner of the aircraft... The only data that we can provide you is that the aircraft remains available for sale."
History and Value of the Presidential Aircraft
The aircraft in question has a long history with Nigeria's Presidential Air Fleet. It was purchased in 2005 for $43 million during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and has served for nearly two decades.
Prior to its listing for sale, the jet underwent significant refurbishment and technical inspections. In July 2024, work was carried out at the AMAC facility in Basel, which included:
- First-class seat refurbishment
- Replacement of cabin carpeting
- Major C1–C2 inspections
According to industry estimates from aircraftcostcalculator.com, a pre-owned Boeing 737 BBJ similar to Nigeria's has an average market value of approximately $56 million, though this depends on its maintenance history and configuration.
The decision to sell the jet was announced by the Tinubu administration in July 2025 as part of a broader initiative to cut costs and rationalize the presidential fleet. This move came amid growing public concern over high government expenditure. The current delisting raises fresh questions about the future of this asset and the government's cost-cutting agenda.
