Technical Committee Proposed By House of Reps to Tackle Challenges With Presidential Aircraft

Technical Committee Proposed By House of Reps to Tackle Challenges With Presidential Aircraft

The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has decided to establish a technical committee to address the recurring issues with the presidential aircraft’s functionality.

In a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, on Monday, May 20, 2024, the committee convened with Air Vice Marshal Olayinka Olusola, the commander of the Presidential Air fleet, to discuss recent incidents involving the use of chartered planes by President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

President Tinubu had chartered a plane from the Netherlands to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the World Economic Forum in April, while Vice President Shettima had to cancel his trip to the United States for the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit due to a faulty aircraft.

Following a motion of urgent public importance introduced by Ahmad Satomi, the Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, lawmakers resolved to summon the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Commander of the presidential fleet to explain the recurrent aircraft malfunctions despite substantial budget allocations for maintenance.

During deliberations, House Minority Whip Isa suggested that the President and Vice President should consider traveling by road to assess the state of road infrastructure nationwide.

After the executive session, Satomi briefed journalists, revealing that a technical committee would be formed to engage with officials from the presidential air fleet and stakeholders to devise a resolution.

Satomi emphasized the sensitivity of the issue and the committee’s commitment to ensuring the best interests of Nigeria and its leaders. He clarified that the decision regarding whether to repair or replace the aircraft had not been finalized, but stressed the importance of maintaining Nigeria’s image on the global stage.

The lawmaker also addressed misconceptions in the media, indicating that some incidents were exaggerated and did not reflect the actual situation. The committee aims to gather all relevant information before reaching a conclusive decision for the benefit of the nation

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