By Peter Omopo
Abuja, July 19, 2025 — Nigeria’s newly acquired Airbus A330-200 presidential aircraft has returned to the country after undergoing extensive repainting and minor interior upgrades in South Africa. The twin-engine jet, which cost the Federal Government $100 million (₦150 billion), was spotted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday.
Photographs shared by aviation-tracking account @Abuja_Aviation on Instagram showed the aircraft, bearing the tail number 5N-FGA, parked at the Presidential Wing of the airport. The jet now sports Nigeria’s national colours — a predominantly white fuselage with green-white-green stripes — and the Nigerian Air Force crest emblazoned near the cockpit windows.
According to a presidency official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the jet underwent a full livery transformation and interior touch-ups in South Africa and will resume presidential operations following routine acceptance checks by the Nigerian Air Force’s Presidential Air Fleet.
“The aircraft is back. The repainting and some interior work have been completed. It will resume presidential service after final checks,” the source said.
Though officials declined to reveal the exact cost of the refurbishment, industry estimates suggest that a full repaint of a wide-body aircraft like the A330 typically costs between $175,000 and $320,000, depending on the complexity of the paint job.
The refurbished aircraft was seen in footage released by the State House on Friday, as President Bola Tinubu boarded it for an official visit to Kano. He is also scheduled to travel to Ogun State in the coming days to condole with the family of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.
The Airbus A330, delivered in August 2024, had previously flown with commercial livery before being ferried to South Africa in early 2025 for refitting to conform with Nigeria’s VIP fleet standards. It replaces the aging Boeing 737-700 Business Jet (acquired in 2005), which has since been listed for sale in Switzerland by U.S.-based aviation firm JetHQ.
Equipped with a master bedroom, conference room, private shower, and secure communication systems, the Airbus is expected to cut maintenance and fuel costs by enabling direct long-haul flights—unlike its predecessor which required costly fuel stops. The aircraft has a 13-hour non-stop range, capable of direct flights from Abuja to destinations such as New York or Beijing.
However, the purchase and refit of the jet have sparked criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups, who question the cost amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Defending the acquisition earlier in May, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said the jet’s advanced features and efficiency would result in significant long-term savings and enhance the President’s capacity for international diplomacy.
Despite repeated inquiries, the Federal Government has yet to disclose the total cost of the repainting and upgrades, though officials maintain it was covered under the original acquisition contract.
The refurbished A330 is one of at least 11 aircraft on Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet, which remains among the most expansive on the African continent.
