Nigeria’s House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has asked the government to acquire new presidential jets for both the President, Bola Tinubu and the Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The committee’s recommendation followed an investigation into the status of the aircraft in the presidential fleet.
“The committee is of the strong and informed opinion that, considering the fragile structure of the Nigerian federation and recognising the dire consequences of any foreseen or unforeseen mishap that may arise as a result of the technical or operational inadequacy of the presidential air fleet, it is in the best interest of the country to procure two additional presidential jets as recommended,” the report read.
“This will also prove to be most cost-efficient in the long run, apart from the added advantage of providing a suitable, comfortable, and safe carrier befitting of the status and responsibilities of the office of the president and vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
There was a heated debate on the floor of the House of Representatives in May when the motion was moved by Satomi Ahmed, the Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
Ahmed’s motion was a sequel to reports of faulty aircraft in the presidential air fleet, forcing the President to go on a chartered flight from the Netherlands to Saudi Arabia during a recent trip abroad.
The House subsequently the committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the aircraft in the presidential fleet to ascertain their airworthiness and technical status.