Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that the Senate hasn’t received any request from President Bola Tinubu regarding funds for a new presidential aircraft.
There are reports, though, that the Nigerian government has allocated N14.77 billion for repairing and maintaining the presidential air fleet over the next 11 months. Also, the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has urged the Federal Government to buy new aircraft for President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, citing issues with the current jets.
Recently, Vice President Kashim Shettima had to cancel his trip to the United States after his plane developed problems, and he had to return to land. Similarly, President Bola Tinubu had to charter a plane from the Netherlands to Saudi Arabia in April.
The Senate clarified on Thursday that no request for new aircraft has been made or approved, responding to criticism from Nigerians who see the move as insensitive and unaffordable. However, Senate President Akpabio mentioned that if the President did request a new jet, the Senate would likely approve it to avoid tragedies like the plane crashes that killed the Vice President of Malawi and the President of Iran.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
