Reps Technical Committee To Investigate Faulty Presidential Aircraft

The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has concluded plans to constitute a technical committee to address issues concerning the frequent malfunctioning of the presidential aircraft.

The committee had a close-door meeting with the Commander of the Presidential Air fleet, Air Vice Marshal Olayinka Olusola, in Abuja to deliberate on the circumstances that resulted in the use of a chartered plane by President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima recently.

The President had in April flown in a chartered plane from The Netherlands to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attend the World Economic Forum.

Due to an aircraft malfunction, the vice president had to postpone his travel to the US, where he was meant to represent the President at the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit. 

The House Committee on National Security and Intelligence Chairman, Ahmad Satomi, brought a motion of urgent public importance to the floor for debate. 

The lawmakers decided to invite Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, and the commander of the presidential fleet to provide updates on the condition of the fleet's aircraft, given the significant yearly budgetary allocations for their upkeep.

Briefing journalists after the executive session, Satomi said a technical committee would be set up to interface with the officials at the presidential air fleet to generate a resolution.

“The committee has engaged the commandant of the presidential air fleet, the NSA and a lot has been discussed. It is a very sensitive national security issue that has to do with our President. And looking at our role in the foreign policy position of Nigeria, this is not something that we will come out publicly and discuss. Nevertheless, a lot has been explained.

“The committee resolved to set up a small technical committee to interface with the NSA, commandant, and all the stakeholders within a short period of time to come up with a final resolution that will foster the best for Nigeria, our President and the entire team of the presidential air fleet."