The House of Representatives has expressed apprehension regarding the condition of the Presidential Air Fleet following President Bola Tinubu’s need to charter a private aircraft for his recent official journeys to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
In response to a motion of urgent importance presented by lawmaker Ahmad Satomi, the House raised concerns about the potential security risks to the President and the negative impression it could convey to the international community.
This concern stemmed from reports that a presidential jet encountered mechanical issues while the President was in the Netherlands in April.
During discussions, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda opined that there was no issue with public officials, including the President, utilizing commercial flights.
Although the motion was temporarily deferred, the pertinent security committees were urged to conduct an investigation into the matter.
The condition of the Presidential Air Fleet has been a growing concern lately. Just last week, a malfunctioning presidential jet prevented Vice President Kashim Shettima from attending the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit organized by the Corporate Council on Africa.
In December, a presidential aircraft, Falcon 900B, was listed for sale, with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) inviting interested parties to submit bids for its purchase.