BREAKING: Reps Push for Urgent Purchase of New Aircraft for Tinubu, Shettima
TheTalk.NG journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
A new report revealed that the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has asked the federal government to immediately purchase new airplanes for the use of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Lawmakers want to acquire new aircraft for Tinubu, Shettima
PremiumTimes exclusively reported on Thursday, June 13 that that the Committee made the call in a report issued after its technical subcommittee conducted a hearing on the status and airworthiness of aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF).
The report was signed by the Committee’s chairperson, Ahmed Satomi, and clerk, Makwe Eric. Some lawmakers say the document has since been forwarded to the presidency for action.
The report read in part:
“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 technical/operational inadequacy of the Presidential Air Fleet, it is in the best interest of the country to procure two additional aircraft as recommended.
“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.”
Details about the Presidential Air Fleet
According to the report, the presidential fleet has six aircraft: one Boeing 737, a Gulfstream G550, a Gulfstream GV, two Falcon 7Xs, and a Challenger CL605. The committee said three of the aircraft were unserviceable as of the time it conducted its hearing.
In addition, the fleet has six helicopters: two Agusta 139s and four Agusta 189s. The committee, quoting the Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Olayinka Oyesola, an Air Vice Marshal, said the two Agusta 139s are currently unserviceable.
The committee states that the president’s 19-year-old Boeing 737 is unserviceable and currently undergoing annual maintenance. Conversely, the vice president’s 13-year-old Gulfstream G550 is in good condition.
Also, the Gulfstream GV is 23 years old and currently unserviceable. One of the Falcon 7Xs is serviceable, while the other is not.
The Challenger CL605 is 12 years old and serviceable. The Agusta 139 helicopters, classified as unserviceable, are 17 and 18 years old, respectively.
Nigerians react
As usual, Nigerians took to the comment section on X and reacted to the development. TheTalk.NG captured some of their reactions below;
@Nnenna__Ibeh tweeted:
“We all saw this coming.”
@mbakese tweeted:
“But did they complain about it to them?”
@MicahTobias tweeted:
“@jimidisu You said this on radio. This people are so easy to predict.”
@Oladapomikky1 tweeted:
“Buying new aircraft for the president and his vice president, whereas you can’t pay a minimum wage of N150,000 because it will have an effect on the economy.”
Source: TheTalk.NG
