Encomium
Wealthy Nigerians are living large, with the richest among us shelling out billions of naira on private jets and their maintenance.
Interestingly, the 250 private jet owners in Nigeria splash an average of N34.9 billion annually to maintain their expensive toys. ENCOMIUM Weekly’s check revealed that aside splashing over N1.8 trillion to acquire their jets, they spend an estimated N9 billion annually as salary for their expatriate pilots and N600 million annually for the crew, while a whopping N25 billion is splashed on general maintenance annually by them.
Information available to ENCOMIUM Weekly revealed that two expatriates usually man these toys and their take home monthly salary is N1.5 million apiece. That means an average of 500 pilots are in charge of the wheel of these jets. Thus, monthly, the 250 jet owners lavish over N750 million and that equals N9 billion annually.
Also, an average of two cabin crew members are usually on board and their monthly take home pay is averagely N100,000 each. Thus, an average of 500 crew members are on the payroll of these wealthy Nigerians and they splash an average of N50 million in their monthly salary and N600 million annually.
Interestingly, these pilots live a highflying lifestyle. A pilot who refused to disclose his identity revealed that, “Being a private jet pilot has its benefits; I get to fly the A-listers, see some of the best places in the world, hang out in bars and restaurants in Nice, Corsica and Sardinia, stay in five-star hotels and see places so amazingly beautiful, you cannot imagine”.
ENCOMIUM Weekly’s check revealed that they are lodged in exotic hotels wherever they are within the country. Some of the hotels where pilots are lodged include Sheraton hotel, Eko Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, The Moorhouse in Ikoyi, Southern Sun Ikoyi, Protea Hotels, amongst others. Aside being lodged in these expensive hotels which are on the payroll of their employers, they eat good food.
Also, each of the countries they visit, they always go on sight seeing, if there is time and they club too.
They hangout in exotic places where they could have a feel of fresh air and comfort after the stress of being above sea level for hours.
We reliably gathered that their clothes don’t come cheap. It’s a competition among them. Pilots of each client are conditioned to look good as they are their ambassadors. Most of their attires are from countries they visit. Thus, they adorn the best designer outfits and wear most expensive perfumes and jewelry.
“Yes, we live good and we spend a lot of time together, and it’s true that relationships (of varying lengths) do form between cabin crew and pilots, especially with the captain”.
We reliably gathered that pilots are Romeos to ladies they come across in each country they visit. “One of the ways they relax is having a delectable babe rocking them in their expensive hotel rooms with free wine and meal”.
ENCOMIUM Weekly check revealed that due to their familiarity with the expensive toy they fly, they are not comfortable with cheap cars that don’t have all the modern facilities.
“Name any exotic car in this world and I can tell you those are the brands of cars they ride. Especially jeep or sport cars. They are usually guests of most of these billionaire daughters or female superstars and socialite whenever their paths crossed. It’s a noble profession that endears you to most of these people and sometimes they get unusually close and get juicy benefits through such unions.”
They are privileged to go to any country of their choice for vacation.
The cabin crew, especially the ladies enjoy good pampering too. Aside their salaries which is mouth-watering, they equally stay in the same exotic hotels within and outside the country like the pilots. Their schedule is not rigid in the sense that they could be one month on or off depending on the timeline of the owner.
According to a cabin crew member, “Yes, it is interesting and one of the most adventurous jobs in the world. Flight attendants, tour guide, event organization overseas, these kind of jobs are for the passionate, adventurous people who are full of desire. I love every minute of it and cannot think of a better vocation”
Another crew member revealed, “My opinion, after having been in the VIP industry for three years as a cabin crew member, is that moneywise, of course it’s preferable. You can’t compare this salary to the salaries of commercial airlines. There are lots of things that make you sometimes forget that you actually are a cabin crew member and not a personal assistant. First, you don’t have a schedule, therefore you can’t plan anything about your life. You may be one month on and a month off”.
Interestingly, aside having easy access to different parts of the world free of charge, they are taken to the best restaurants and go shopping with rich clients they courted or met onboard.
“That’s why they have a lot of foreign dresses in their kitty. Aside that, it affords a lot of them who are entrepreneurial in nature to engage in businesses such as sales of fashion accessories and run boutiques. After all, it’s not their money but their rich clients who service such things. Don’t be surprised that some of them live in highbrow areas such as Lekki and Ajah. They have decent accommodation picked for them by their rich boyfriends. They are also friends to moneybags they have easy access to most private events organised by top notchers.
-FEMI OYEWALE
