There are more than 40 private jet owners among Nigeria’s super-rich, comprising businessmen and women, politicians, pastors, and A-rated musicians.
And of course, extremely wealthy Nigerians prefer privacy, and one of the ways to achieve this is by flying in their private jets
Top on this list includes Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola Bola Tinubu, Pastor Adeboye, and hip-hop artists such as Olamide, and Davido among others.
The cost of maintaining a private jet in Nigeria
Financially, private jet owners are billionaires, considering the substantial cost of maintaining one.
The average cost of maintaining a private jet ranges from $500,000 to $1,000,000, as reported by a private jet charter company based in Florida, United States.
Using today’s parallel market exchange rates, it translates to approximately 730 million naira to 1.4 billion naira to keep a private jet in good condition in Nigeria.
Some of the maintenance routine includes inspections and troubleshooting. Even repairing a flat tire for a private jet could cost between N2.9 million ($2,000) and N4.3 million ($3,000), according to Fly Alliance reports.
Some of Them Don’t Pay Duties – Customs
On August 2, 2021, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) disclosed that 30 owners of private jets were yet to pay duties to the Federal Government.
The NCS revealed that there are 65 verified private jet owners in Nigeria, although they didn’t disclose the names of those behind the ownership.
Moreover, both known and unknown Nigerian billionaires prefer owning their jets not only for the convenience it provides but also as a display of affluence and class. Consider the luxury of flying your jet to Italy just to purchase an ice cream!
NOTE: Some of them also have helicopters to shuttle within the 36 states of the federation plus the Federal Capital Territory.
Here is a categorized list of private jet owners in Nigeria:
Pastors
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding ministers of God owning luxury items and living in exquisite houses, often possessing vast assets that surpass those of the people they lead.
However, some argue that there is no issue with a minister enjoying a good life, asserting that men of God are humans, just like you and me.
This sentiment was reinforced by the head Pastor of RCCG, Enoch Adeboye, during an interview in 2017.
He stated that the Bible isn’t against men of God who own private jets. Justifying the acquisition of private jets among men of God, the clergyman explained that:
“So as for me, people of God who have a global ministry having an aircraft, nobody has neither moral nor biblical justification for them not to own an aircraft, it is just a means of transport just like a car, so why would they not have an instrument that would help them do the work?”
Independentng November 5, 2017
He posited that isn’t morally wrong nor biblically wrong, it is also not ethically wrong for pastors, evangelists, and preachers who operate a global ministry to have an aircraft.
As such, below is a list of Nigerian clergymen who spread the gospel using private jet locally and internationally.
Bishop David Oyedepo
Bishop David Oyedepo is the founder and general overseer of the Living Faith Church A.K.A Winners Chapel is considered to be one of the largest congregations in the world with branches around Nigeria and abroad.
Interestingly, he is ranked to be one of the wealthiest men of God in the world and to add to that fact, he owns four private jets.
His jet collections include the Bombardier Challenger 604, Grumman Gulfstream I (G-159), Gulfstream IV (G-IV) and Gulfstream V (Gee-5).
It was gathered that Oyedepo acquired his first jet, the Gulfstream 1 in 1996 and the last jet, the Gulfstream V (Gee-5) in 2011 and its cost him $30 million.
Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye popularly called “Daddy G.O” is the General Overseer of the Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG) with its camp headquartered in Mowe, Ogun State, and branches around Nigeria and the world.
In April 2013, Daddy G.O justified the purchase of his private jet, saying it is needed for someone who has millions of members across 160 countries, during an interview, he granted Aljazeera, a global news channel.
Specifically, he was quoted as saying:
“When you have to oversee churches in 160 countries, you can’t do that on a bicycle.”
Aljazeera
He is also ranked among the richest ministers in the world with assets valued at billions of dollars.
From what we gathered, the seasoned minister of God is a proud owner of two private jets, the first is the Gulfstream G550 and the second is the Gulfstream GIV. The latter cost $65 million.
Even at that, Baba Adeboye is still very humble.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the founder of ‘Word of Life Bible Church’ and former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), is among the pastors in Nigeria who own private jets. He possesses a Bombardier Challenger 601, which he claims was a gift. However, the private aircraft is valued at $40 million.
There were rumors that during the government of Goodluck Jonathan, one of the senior government officials gifted him the jet.
The Bombardier Challenger 201 is an upgrade to the ‘600 series,’ offering an improved range coverage of 3784 miles and a maximum speed of 528 mph.
Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Funfeyin
The seasoned minister of God, Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Funfeyin, serves as the founder and general overseer of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry located in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
The revered minister acquired his private jet, the Bombardier Challenger 601-3R, in 2018 at an estimated cost of about $3 million
Apostle Johnson Suleman
Apostle Johnson Suleman is a seasoned Nigerian televangelist and the senior pastor and general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International. Proudly, he owns three private jets.
At one point, he was quoted as saying the COVID-19 pandemic was a blessing for him as he acquired his third jet during that challenging period.
“In COVID, I bought a jet. The third one. I have three. I was praying for COVID not to end because I was resting. While people were complaining, my wife asked, ‘Can life be this sweet?”.TheCable quoted, February 17, 2021.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
The founder and general overseer of Christ Embassy did not escape our search beam as a private jet owner.
The revered man of God owns a private jet, which we learned was a gift from the Loveworld Music and Art group, an arm of the Believers.
Prophet T.B Joshua (late)
Prophet T.B Joshua the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN) who died on June 5, 2021 left behind a private jet.
The late televangelist is the owner of Gulfstream G550. It is 96 ft 5 in (29.39 m) aircraft was purchased in 2015 reportedly cost $60 million.
Politicians
Many Nigerians believe that the wealthiest individuals in Nigeria are often politicians, albeit unofficially.
Due to their connections with state funds and public resources, they tend to manage their business empires discreetly.
Despite their desire for privacy regarding their wealth, some of them are recognized for owning private jets. These include:
Atiku Abubakar
Atiku is the former Vice President from 1999 to 2007 and a former Presidential aspirant under PDP.
Bola Tinubu
The incumbent Nigeria’s president owns a private jet even before becoming the Commander-In-Chief. He a former two-time Lagos state governor.
Ibrahim Babangida
Nigeria’s former military leader may not be as active as he once was, but he is the owner of a private jet.
Rotimi Amaechi
The former governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amechi was said to have secretly acquired a brand-new Bombardier Global 5000 (N565RS) in 2012.
The former Minister of Transportation reportedly acquired the private exclusively for his personal use.
Ali Modu Sheriff
Another prominent Nigerian politician who owns a private jet is Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State.
Olusegun Obasanjo
Nigeria’s former military and democratic leader and a leading voice in Africa.
Godswill Akpabio
Godswill Akpabio, the former governor of Akwa Ibom and former Minister of Niger Delta is a big spender. He is the incumbent President of the Senate.
Rochas Okorocha
Okorocha is the former governor of Imo State.
Ned Nwoko
Billionaire philanthropist, Prince Ned Nwoko, is not only a consultant to the Federal Government but also a senior lawmaker.
He is a strategic politician and a tactical businessman who openly owns a private plane, distinguishing him from other politicians who may not be as transparent about their assets.
Orji Uzor Kalu
Orji Uzor Kalu is a former governor of Abia state and a sitting senator at the National Assembly.
He is the founder of SLOK Holdings and owner of two newspapers (Daily Sun and the New Telegraph).
Business moguls
Aliko Dangote
Why wouldn’t you indulge in a lavish breakfast when you’re worth over $13 billion, as per the latest Forbes’ ranking?
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, certainly doesn’t deny himself the pleasures of the luxurious life that his wealth affords.
One of the jets, named Bombardier’s Global Express XRS from Montreal, Canada, is reported to cost $45 million (NGN16.3 billion).
The founder of Dangote refinery acquired this luxury jet on his 53rd birthday, and rightfully so, being the richest man in Africa for decades.
The jet is designed to comfortably accommodate 19 passengers and is highly efficient, capable of covering a range of 14,300km.
Theophilus Danjuma
The retired Army General is a billionaire who keeps his wealth secret. In addition to contributing over US$500,000 to non-governmental organizations in Nigeria, the former Chief of Army Staff owns two private jets: a 900XP Hawker jet and a Challenger 605 Bombardier.
Allen Onyema
The founder of Air Peace, Chief Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, boasts the highest number of planes in Nigeria. His impressive fleet includes four Airbus A320-200, 13 Boeing 737, and eight Embraer ERJ-145, among a total of 34 planes under his control.
Although Onyema primarily employs these planes for commercial purposes, being the owner of the airline allows him to travel at his leisure around the world in whichever aircraft he prefers.
According to Planes Potters, his flight business currently manages 30 aircraft of various makes and types.
Arthur Eze
The Anambra state billionaire, Eze, has maintained his billionaire status for more than three decades. Notably, his wealth isn’t measured in Naira but in US Dollars.
When you’re a billionaire in dollars, it often means you are wealthier than some state governments in Nigeria. Arthur Eze, in his investment endeavors across Nigeria and Africa, owns a Bombardier Challenger.
On August 30, 2020, his private jet made history as the first to land on the rehabilitated Akanu Ibiam International Airport runway.
Adedeji Adeleke
The exact net worth of Chief Adedeji Adeleke, the founder of Adeleke University in Ede, Osun State, may not be known, but those who have followed him since the ’90s are aware that he is a billionaire who loves a quiet life.
A few years ago, the Ede-born investor sent a powerful message to Nigerians when he reportedly acquired a Bombardier Global Express 6000, spending a whopping $62 million. In today’s official exchange rate, that amounts to over N89 billion.
The founder of Pacific Bank and Chairman of Pacific Holdings Limited was once rumored to have offered a loan to his home state government.
Folorunsho Alakija
There’s a popular saying, ‘What a man can do, a woman can do better.’ The founder of Fanfa Oil Limited, who controls an oil well, possesses sufficient funds in all major currencies to afford whatever she needs for her comfort.
She owns private jets, specifically the Bombardier Global Express XRS, estimated to be worth $46 million.
This large-cabin jet with a range of 6,000 mi / 11,100 km is designed and manufactured by Bombardier Aviation.
Cletus Ibeto
Apart from having several bulletproof exotic cars in his garage, the spare parts billionaire and the chairman of Ibeto Group, Cletus Ibeto’s wealth isn’t limited on the road, he extended his dominance to the airspace with a private jet.
Mike Adenuga
The founder and chairman of Globacom Telecommunications owns three aircraft: a Bombardier Challenger 604, priced between US$7.30 million and US$8.10 million; a Bombardier Global Express XRS, priced between $14.2 million and $16.9 million; and a Falcon 7X, priced between $19,750,000 and $23,000,000, according to data on LibertyJet. The cost varies based on the year of production.
Dr. Bryant (ABC) Orjiako
The former Chairman of SEPLAT Oil is another man on the list. He is a medical doctor turned oil mogul.
Femi Otedola
It is reported that Otedola, the Chairman of Geregu Power Plant, owns more than one private jet, but we cannot independently verify this at the moment.
However, what we do know is that Otedola is one of the lavish billionaires who fly on private jets.
Jide Omokore
Omokore is the founder of Energy Resources Group.
Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi
Obiejesi is also the founder of Obijackson West Africa Limited. His business interest includes Engineering and Construction, Oil and gas.
Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide
With 18 Aircraft in his hangar, the founder of Nigeria’s biggest commercial airline, Arik Air, has been in the aviation business before Air Peace came on board.
Some of the planes you will find in his portfolio include Airbus A330, Bombardier CRJ-200, and De Havilland Canada DHC-8-300 among others.
Igho Sanomi
In case you don’t know, the young and smart son of a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police is one of the youngest billionaires in Nigeria and in Africa.
The younger Sanomi has a private jet, it was reported in April 2019 that he forfeited the jet and three of his apartments in London to a Swiss bank over $3million in debt.
Another version of the story reported that the younger oil baron was able to find his way out of the debt.
Jimoh Ibrahim
Now a Senator, the Chairman and founder Global Fleet Group, Jimoh Ibrahim owns a Bombardier Challenger 605.
Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah
The Chairman of Capital Oil and Anambra State Senator is said to own Embraer Legacy 600 private jet.
Obinna Iyiegbu
Popularly known as Obi Cubana, Obinna is an entrepreneur who owns several nightclubs.
Nigerian Musicians
If you’re aware of the earnings that A-rated Nigerian musicians, producers, and record label founders generate from streaming platforms, then you’ll understand their financial capacity to afford a private jet. In this category, we have:
Don Jazzy
Don Jazzy is one of the greatest music producers in the Nigerian music industry. He owns his record label known for producing numerous stars over the years.
He is the proud owner of Bombardier Challenger 605 with market value $9.5 million.
Davido
Omo Baba Olowo appears prominently on the list of celebrities who have a private jet.
DJ Cuppy
Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola popularly known as DJ Cuppy is a popular Nigerian Disc Jockey and daughter of a Nigerian businessman and billionaire Femi Otedola.
It was speculated that the private jet is one of her Dad’s private jets, regardless, we consider her one of the rich young ladies who cruises around the world with a private jet.
Others on this category are:
- Wizkid
- Phyno
- Psquare
- Tiwa Savage
- Olamide