INVESTIGATION: How Governor Akpabio wasted Akwa Ibom’s N2.3 billion on aircraft charter

In what appears an act of profligacy, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, is said to have spent over N2.3 billion on aircraft charter between 2009 and 2011.

PREMIUM TIMES investigations showed that Mr. Akpabio signed a charter deal with Vista Jet, a Swiss Airline Holding Company in 2009. The state’s  Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umana, however said the jet was hired based on Governor Akpabio’s need.

Founded in 2004 by Thomas Flohr, Vista Jet has operations in Nigeria and six other countries – the United Kingdom, UK; United Arab Emirate, UAE;  China, Malaysia, Austria and Switzerland.
It is one of the world’s premier luxury private jet charter firms flying clients between any two points on a pay-as-you-go fare structure, like a taxi company.
Between 2009 and 2011, Mr. Akpabio is believed to have made an average of four return trips on a weekly basis within and outside Nigeria with the Swiss luxury jet.

The governor was said to have also used the aircraft like an air taxi to convey members of his immediate family and friends within and outside Nigeria.



A source in the Government House, Uyo, who cannot be quoted because he is not permitted to speak on the matter, revealed  that a whooping N3 million was paid per trip to the Swiss aviation firm and its Nigerian associates.

The source said, “The governor started using the jet shortly after Arik Air withdrew its services from the Akwa Ibom International Airport due to squabbles associated with the ticket subsidy which the government was paying to the aviation company.
“
Arik Air was collecting money for empty seats each time it came in or left Ibom International Airport.

The ticket subsidy ran into hundreds of thousands of naira on a daily basis with so many people feeding fat on it.
“At a point, Arik still insisted on collecting money from the government, even when its  seats were fully booked and paid for by travelers but the government would not succumb to the blackmail.”

A prominent politician from the state, believed to have interest in Arik Air,  struck the ticket subsidy deal, according to the source.

After the deal broke down, the authorities of the airline withdrew services from the state, the source said.
Known for his glitzy lifestyle, Mr. Akpabio was said to have afterwards made a permanent charter arrangement with VistaJet to convey him, members of his family and important visitors to the state.

Another source at Ibom International Airport confirmed that Mr. Akpabio flew with the chartered jet over six times in a week and even made trips abroad with the chartered plane.

“It wasn’t a secret,” he said. “You know our governor is a showman. He was using the Vista Jet to travel all over the world. His family and close friends also used the aircraft anytime they were traveling outside the state.

“The jet was permanently chartered by the government. When the governor had an engagement to attend with his wife and family outside the state, the aircraft was used in conveying them.

“Due to safety concern, you know the governor does not fly in the same aircraft with his wife and children. Each time he needed to travel with his family, the airline will first drop the governor before coming back to pick up his wife and children.

“When they were coming back, the aircraft most times brought the wife and children first before going back for the governor.”

With an average of four return trips at the rate of N3 million per trip, Mr. Akpabio spent a minimum of N24million naira per week and N96 million per month to retain the services of the Swiss private airline.

However, in one year, Akwa Ibom State paid a total of N1.15 billion for its gallivanting governor and N2.3 billion during the two years it retained the services of the luxury airline.


During the years under review, Vista Jet virtually ruled the Akwa Ibom airspace like a colossus

 When the airport management approached the airline at the beginning of its operations, it reportedly insisted it had a charter arrangement with Mr. Akpabio and would not pay the required fees.


When the airport management approached the airline at the beginning of its operations, it reportedly insisted it had a charter arrangement with Mr. Akpabio and would not pay the required fees.