Tinubu Departs Abuja on Obasanjo-Era Jet for Borno, Bauchi, Lagos Tour
President Bola Tinubu departed Abuja on Saturday aboard the 20-year-old Boeing 737 Business Jet (tail number 5N-FGT) for a working visit spanning Borno, Bauchi, and Lagos states, where he will combine project inaugurations, social engagements, and holiday observances.
The aircraft, acquired in 2005 during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, saw renewed use after its planned sale was quietly abandoned earlier this month due to insufficient buyer interest and offers well below expectations.
Tinubu took off from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 11:45 am, with enhanced security measures in place in Borno State, where police deployed tactical teams, surveillance units, and explosive ordnance disposal operatives ahead of his arrival.
According to a statement by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, the President’s itinerary begins in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, where he will commission several development projects undertaken by Governor Babagana Zulum in partnership with the Federal Government.
While in Maiduguri, Tinubu will also attend the wedding of Sadeeq Sheriff, son of former Borno Governor and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to Hadiza Kam Salem.
From Borno, the President proceeds to Bauchi for a condolence visit to the state government and family of the late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, the influential Tijjaniyya leader and Islamic scholar who passed away on 27 November 2025 at age 98 (or over 100, according to some family accounts).
The tour concludes in Lagos, where Tinubu will spend the Christmas and New Year holidays. He is scheduled to serve as Guest of Honour at the Eyo Festival on 27 December at Tafawa Balewa Square, an event honouring his late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, alongside former Lagos governors Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Chief Michael Otedola.
The aircraft used for the tour, a Boeing 737 BBJ, originally purchased for $43 million, had been listed for sale in July 2025 as part of fleet rationalisation efforts following the acquisition of a newer Airbus A330. However, low offers reportedly as little as $10 million and limited market interest led to its delisting from international platforms in early December, allowing its return to presidential service after maintenance and inspections. Its reuse highlights the practical challenges of managing and renewing national assets.