Politicians Struggle to Hire Private Jets For Campaigns – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said politicians preparing for the 2027 general elections are struggling to hire private jets for their campaign activities.

He made the remarks on Tuesday during a Senate plenary session. Lawmakers were debating a motion to review Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with China. Akpabio blamed the situation on private airline operators’ inability to meet the growing demand for air travel.

The motion, sponsored by Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), called on the Nigerian Government to renegotiate the agreement. The move would allow Nigerian airlines to operate direct flights to China.

Akpabio used the December festive season to highlight the pressure on the aviation sector. He warned that the demand for flights could worsen during the period.

“Watch December and the confusion. Even the private airlines cannot handle it. Common campaigns, we cannot see even private jets to hire. We should at least be able to urge the federal government to look into that to alleviate the plight of airlines,” he said.

The Senate President also called for reviving a national carrier to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation industry. He recalled that the defunct Nigerian Airways once operated between 32 and 40 aircraft. According to him, the airline transported Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and served other destinations.

“We used to have a plane in those days carrying people to Saudi Arabia and all that. At the time, Nigerian Airways had about 32 planes on ground, about 40, going from one place to the other. So, how did we get here?” he asked.

Akpabio maintained that Nigeria needed a national carrier capable of flying the country’s flag.

Private jets have become a common means of transport for Nigerian politicians and senior government officials, particularly during election campaigns and official engagements.

Political parties and candidates often charter aircraft to attend rallies, meetings and campaign events across different states. This lets them cover several locations on tight schedules.

However, private jet charter costs vary. It depends on the aircraft type, passenger capacity, distance and duration of the trip. Online estimates put private jet charter rates in Nigeria at between $5,000 and $7,000 per flight hour.

Based on these estimates, a four-to-six-hour journey could cost between $20,000 and $42,000. The practice is not limited to presidential candidates. Governors, lawmakers, ministers and other senior officials also use privately owned or chartered aircraft for local and international trips.

Some officials have access to government-owned aircraft or presidential fleet services for official engagements.

Private jets have also featured in discussions about official foreign travel. In April 2026, former President Goodluck Jonathan told a United Kingdom court that he had approved the use of private jets by former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke for some overseas trips.

As political activities build towards the 2027 elections, Akpabio’s comments have brought new attention to the demand for private aircraft and the capacity of Nigeria’s aviation sector.