The Federal Government has said its newly introduced BisonFly project will save the country up to N24bn annually in official air travel expenses.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, explained that the initiative would drastically reduce government overheads through centralised bookings and discounted airfares.

Edun, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Raymond Omachi, charged the project team to ensure the timely execution of the initiative, describing it as crucial to the government’s fiscal reforms.

“The BisonFly project directly supports our commitment to prudent financial management. By coordinating travel and securing discounted rates, we are using the government’s collective bargaining power to cut expenditure and improve service delivery, just as global institutions like the World Bank have done successfully,” the statement quoted him as saying.

According to the ministry, the project is expected to deliver between N18bn and N24bn in annual savings from discounted airfares across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“The Minister highlighted the project’s potential to significantly reduce the overhead cost of official air travel across the Federal Civil Service, with an estimated annual savings of N18-24bn through discounted air fares,” the statement noted.

It added that the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s broader fiscal and tax reforms.

The statement described the BisonFly project as a strategic initiative of the Ministry of Finance designed to manage official travel across government institutions through a centralised, technology-enabled system.

By integrating digital booking tools and a central platform, the government said it would promote transparency, ensure efficiency, and optimise costs in the public service.

The ministry stressed that the successful implementation of the project would embed a culture of fiscal discipline and responsible financial management in the Federal Civil Service.

It said the project would not only save funds but also enhance efficiency in service delivery, contribute to economic growth, create jobs, and improve productivity in the public sector.