- Shettima had to abort his trip to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa following an incident at an airport in New York
The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, has raised alarm over the safety of Nigeria’s Vice-President, Kashim Shettima.
Lawan stated that Shettima’s life is at risk due to the bad presidential aircraft he travels with.
Shettima had to abort his trip to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa following an incident at an airport in New York, United States involving the plane he was supposed to travel in.
The Presidency confirmed that a “foreign object” hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.
Some parts of the aircraft, including the windscreen of the cockpit, were damaged in the incident.
In a statement issued in Maiduguri, the capital Borno state, on Sunday, Lawan asked the Nigerian Government to change Shettima’s jet.
He also implored the Nigerian government to demand from the United States a thorough investigation into the incident.
He said: “I want to sympathize with the Nigerian Government, especially the office of the Vice President, his crew and staff over the unfortunate incident at JFK Airport in New York, U.S.A.
“I also express my gratitude to Allah (God) for saving the precious life of our dear Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima and those on board the ill- fated VP’s plane, even as I urge the Nigerian government to demand a thorough and timely investigation from the United States government over the incident that affected Vice President Kashim Shettima’s plane at one of the most secure spots in the World.”
He claimed that the current aircraft the vice president use is old and faulty, hence the need for a replacement.
“The life of the Vice President, and that of his crew/officials stand at risk while using the old and faulty presidential aircraft.
“Therefore, there is the urgent need to acquire a new aircraft to Senator Kashim Shettima so as to avoid these recurrence of air mishaps.”
The demand for replacement of Shettima’s aircraft is coming less than two months after president Bola Tinubu acquired a $150 million private jet for his itinerary.
The acquisition drew the ire of the public with many condemning it as they deemed it a wasteful and profligate use of public resources during a period of widespread hardship and suffering in the country.