The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has urged the Nigerian federal government to swiftly acquire new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
This recommendation follows a detailed assessment by the committee’s technical subcommittee on the current state and safety of the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF).
The committee’s report raised concerns about the high maintenance costs and frequent grounding of President Tinubu’s 19-year-old plane. These issues have led to increased operational expenses and reduced the fleet’s reliability. Legislators stressed the necessity of providing safe and dependable transportation for the nation’s highest officials, citing the potential risks posed by the current aircraft’s technical and operational limitations.
“The Committee is of the strong and informed opinion that considering the fragile structure of the Nigerian federation and recognizing the dire consequences of any foreseen or unforeseen mishap that may arise as a result of technical/operational inadequacy of the Presidential Air Fleet, it is in the best interest of the country to procure two additional aircraft as recommended,” the report stated.
