The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has urged the federal government to acquire new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
This recommendation was made in a report released following the committee’s investigation into the current status of aircraft within the presidential air fleet.
The committee emphasized the critical need for updated aircraft due to concerns about the existing fleet’s technical and operational deficiencies.
They argued that such inadequacies could pose significant risks to Nigeria’s national security and the effective functioning of the presidency.
The report highlighted the potential cost-efficiency of acquiring new planes over the long term, while also ensuring that the president and vice-president travel safely and comfortably, which aligns with the dignity and responsibilities of their offices.
Earlier, the House had directed the committee to conduct a thorough review of the presidential fleet’s airworthiness and technical condition, prompted by incidents such as the president’s recent use of a chartered plane for an international trip due to aircraft faults.
Vice-President Shettima also had to cancel a trip due to similar issues with his assigned aircraft.
The committee, chaired by Satomi Ahmed, engaged with officials from the presidential air fleet, ultimately recommending the procurement of new aircraft for Tinubu and Shettima.
This recommendation was further supported by a technical sub-committee’s findings and subsequently adopted by the main committee.
Currently, the presidential air fleet comprises six aircraft and six helicopters, with notable issues including unserviceable units such as a 19-year-old Boeing 737 and older Agusta helicopters.
The committee’s report, signed by Ahmed and Makwe Eric, the committee’s clerk, underscores the necessity of addressing these deficiencies promptly to ensure the operational readiness and safety of Nigeria’s presidential air transport capabilities.
