Nearly four months after it was listed for sale on an international aircraft sales platform, the Nigerian government’s Presidential Boeing 737-700 Business Jet remains unsold.
The status of the aircraft was confirmed via email correspondence between our reporter and JetHQ, the U.S.-based aviation firm handling the sale.
In response to inquiries, JetHQ’s Market Research Assistant, Marinell Nuevo, stated that the jet is still “available for sale.” However, further questions were redirected to the company’s Market Research Manager, Laurie Barringer, who declined to share additional details.
“We do not provide this kind of information to anyone except the direct owner of the aircraft. This is considered proprietary information,” Barringer wrote. “The only information we can share is that the aircraft remains available.”
A follow-up email emphasizing public accountability—given that the jet was purchased and maintained with taxpayer funds—had not received a response at the time of publication.
The aircraft is managed by Switzerland-based AMAC Aerospace, a company that specializes in aircraft maintenance and sales. According to the listing, the jet underwent partial refurbishment and major technical inspections at AMAC’s Basel facility in July 2024. This included overhauls of first-class seats, new cabin carpeting, and comprehensive C1–C2 inspections.
Described in the listing as having had “one owner since new” and “always hangared,” the jet features a 33-passenger layout and accommodations for eight crew members, totaling 41 seats.
According to aircraftcostcalculator.com, the average market value of a pre-owned Boeing 737 Business Jet (BBJ) is around $56 million, though this depends on configuration, age, and maintenance records. The site estimates operational costs at roughly $11,561 per flight hour, with annual ownership expenses exceeding $5.2 million, factoring in fuel, maintenance, and staffing.
The aircraft was originally acquired in 2005 for $43 million under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and has been part of the Presidential Air Fleet ever since.
In July 2025, the Tinubu administration moved to sell the aircraft as part of a cost-reduction and fleet restructuring initiative aimed at curbing government spending. The decision followed increasing public criticism over the financial burden of maintaining multiple aircraft in the presidential fleet.
However, four months after it was listed, the sale remains incomplete—raising concerns about pricing, international buyer interest, and the continued cost of maintaining the aircraft, which was originally funded by public resources.
