The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has decided to form a technical committee to investigate the recurring malfunctions of the presidential aircraft. This resolution was reached following a closed-door meeting on Monday, May 20, 2024, between the committee and Air Vice Marshal Olayinka Olusola, Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The meeting was convened to discuss the circumstances that led President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to recently use a chartered plane. In April, President Tinubu flew from the Netherlands to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a chartered aircraft to attend the World Economic Forum. Additionally, the Vice President cancelled his trip to the United States for the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit due to a faulty presidential aircraft.
The House debated a motion of urgent public importance introduced by Ahmad Satomi, Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence. The lawmakers resolved to invite National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and the commander of the presidential fleet to explain the status of the aircraft, especially given the substantial annual budget allocated for their maintenance.
During the debate, Minority Whip Ali Isa suggested that the President and Vice President consider travelling by road to better understand the condition of the nation’s road infrastructure.
Speaking to journalists after the executive session, Satomi announced the formation of a technical committee to engage with officials from the presidential air fleet and formulate a resolution. “The committee has engaged the commandant of the presidential air fleet, the NSA, and many issues have been discussed. This is a very sensitive national security issue involving our President. Considering Nigeria’s foreign policy stance, this is not something we can publicly discuss in detail. Nevertheless, much has been explained,” Satomi stated.
He continued, “The committee resolved to establish a small technical committee to interface with the NSA, commandant, and all stakeholders within a short period to develop a final resolution that benefits Nigeria, our President, and the presidential air fleet.”
Regarding whether the planes should be repaired or replaced, Satomi commented, “We have not resolved that issue yet. The entire presidential air fleet is currently operational. The question of repair or replacement is not our immediate concern. Our focus is ensuring that Nigeria’s global image is appropriately represented. While some incidents have been sensationalised by the media, they are not as significant as they appear.”
He concluded, “We have not finalised any decisions, but stakeholders will continue to be engaged. Ultimately, we aim to ensure that our fleet reflects the pride and stature of Nigeria on the global stage.”
