From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has said it would summon the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, over faulty aircrafts in the presidential fleet.
At a press briefing in Abuja, yesterday, Chairman, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Ahmad Satomi, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had to charter a flight from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, recently, to the United Kingdom, because the presidential aircraft was faulty.
The lawmaker noted that Vice President Kashim Shettima was airborne last week, when the presidential aircraft developed a fault, forcing him to abort his trip. Consequently, he said it was imperative for the NSA to appear before the committee to answer questions in respect of the presidential fleet.
“The vice president, last week, was one hour airborne when the aircraft developed a problem and had to turn back. As I speak to you this morning, he used a commercial flight to Kebbi, and the aircraft belongs to an individual. That aircraft belongs to the country that is why the presidential jet is called the ‘Airforce 1’. So, it is a shame.
“When Mr. President wanted to leave from Riyadh to the United Kingdom, he used a chartered plane. In the 21st century? No! Not Nigeria. Let’s be serious, please.
“Our flight defines our capacity. Believe it. And we have appropriated enough funds for them to maintain these aircrafts. So, that is why I said the NSA should come and I want it to be public when he arrives. What is happening? We have all it takes as a country to maintain the aircraft.”
Earlier, the House had stepped down a motion by Satomi calling for an investigation into the air worthiness of all aircrafts in the presidential fleet to forestall unwarranted national tragedy.
The lawmaker, in the motion, had noted that “the budget of the presidential air fleet is under the Office of the National Security Adviser as appropriated yearly by the National Assembly. “
However, lawmakers, while contributing to the debate on the bill, expressed divergent views on the use of chartered flights by the president and his deputy.
Soda Soli, in his contribution, noted that it was a serious issue for President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima to resort to chartered flights for their trips.
“Mr. Speaker, if this country could find itself in this kind of situation, I don’t know what can happen tomorrow. The life and security of our president, and indeed, the sovereignty of this country, is at stake.
“We don’t know what is going on with the administration of the fleet. What is really going on? If our president should be held at ransom and at the assistance of our friends outside the country to charter an aircraft …This is very serious.”
But the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda said there was nothing wrong with public officials using public transportation.
“In Britain, the Prime Minister flies British Airways. I don’t see anything wrong with a public officer using commercial transportation,” Chinda stated.
He added that the motion was unnecessary as the relevant committee was already empowered to embark on investigation, without a resolution on the floor. Eventually, the motion was stepped down by the leave of the House, so that the relevant committee can look into the issue.