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The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has urged the federal government to acquire new presidential aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
The committee’s recommendation was contained in a report released after its investigation into the status of the aircraft in the presidential air 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 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,” the report stated.
The House had in May mandated the Committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the aircraft in the presidential fleet to ascertain their airworthiness and technical status.
The decision followed the withdrawn motion moved by Hon. Satomi Ahmed (APC, Borno), chairman of the National Security and Intelligence Committee.
Some lawmakers had suggested that the president should travel via commercial aircraft or by road during the heated debate.
Ahmed’s motion followed reports of faulty aircraft in the presidential air fleet, forcing the president to use a chartered plane from the Netherlands to Saudi Arabia during his recent trip abroad.
Shettima had also cancelled his trip to the United States due to a fault with his aircraft when he was to represent Tinubu at the 2024 US-Africa business summit.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Satomi said the committee would set up a technical committee to interface with the officials at the presidential air fleet and come up with a resolution.
The sub-committee, it was learnt after engaging the presidential air fleet officials, recommended that new aircraft be purchased for Tinubu and Shettima and it was adopted by the committee.
According to the report, the presidential fleet consists of six aircraft and six helicopters.
The aircraft include one Boeing 737 (19 years old, currently unserviceable and undergoing maintenance); one Gulfstream G550 (13 years old, in good condition), one Gulfstream GV (23 years old, unserviceable); two Falcon 7Xs (one serviceable, one unserviceable); and one Challenger CL605 (12 years old, serviceable).
The helicopter fleet includes two Agusta 139s (17 and 18 years old, both unserviceable) and four Agusta 189s with no information on their condition.