The House of Representatives on Wednesday decided to conduct a thorough investigation into the airworthiness and technical condition of all the aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet, as well as the professional competence of the engineers and technicians of the fleet.
For this purpose, the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence has summoned the National Security Adviser, Commandant of the Presidential Air Fleet, and any other relevant government official(s) to provide detailed explanations as to why the fleet is not operating at the necessary capacity to ensure the safety of the president.
Recent reports have indicated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had to travel to Saudi Arabia on a chartered flight for the World Economic Forum in Riyadh from the Netherlands, where he was engaged in a series of economic and diplomatic activities, due to a malfunction in the presidential jet while in the Netherlands.
Following these discussions, the committee is expected to make recommendations that will address and provide a long-term solution to the incidents that have brought disgrace and humiliation to the nation.
The chairman of the committee, Hon. Ahmed Satomi, expressed concern over recent media reports regarding the cancellation of Vice President Kashim Shetima’s trip to the United States for the 2024 UU-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas.
He highlighted a press release by Stanley Nwokocha, the senior special assistant to the president on Media and Communications at the Office of the Vice President, which confirmed that Vice President Kashim Shetima, originally slated to represent the president, was unable to travel due to technical issues with the aircraft. This situation led to a change in plans based on the advice of the Presidential Air Fleet.
Such incidents present a significant and immediate threat to the lives of the president, the vice president, and other dignitaries who rely on the fleet for transportation.
From: Nwakaji Peace Martins
