Amid Nigeria’s deepening economic crisis and widespread public suffering, lawmakers are advocating for the urgent purchase of new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. This proposal, aimed at addressing the technical inadequacies of the current Presidential Air Fleet, has ignited significant public outrage.
The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, after a technical subcommittee’s review, recommended acquiring two new planes. According to the committee’s report, signed by Chairperson Ahmed Satomi and Clerk Makwe Eric, this move is essential to ensure the safety and operational efficiency of the nation’s top officials.The current fleet consists of six aircraft and six helicopters, several of which are unserviceable.
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The committee argued that the high maintenance costs and frequent downtimes justify acquiring new aircraft.This recommendation follows a previous motion by Mr. Satomi to investigate the fleet’s issues, citing incidents where the president and vice president encountered aircraft malfunctions.Adding to public discontent, the federal government’s recent N21 billion renovation of the Vice President’s official residence has been criticized as a misallocation of resources amidst widespread economic hardship.
