Replace VP Shettima's Aircraft, Borno Speaker Tells FG

Life Threatened, New Plane Needed - Borno Speaker's Plea for VP Shettima

“I want to sympathize with the Nigerian Government, especially the office of the Vice President, his crew...”

Vice President Shettima's Life at Risk: Faulty Aircraft Sparks Concern, Borno Speaker Calls for Replacement After NYC Incident.

Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, has sounded the alarm on the risks Vice President Kashim Shettima faces due to the faulty presidential aircraft he uses to represent President Bola Tinubu globally. This concern arose after Shettima canceled his trip to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa following an incident at New York's JFK Airport, where a foreign object hit his plane, damaging parts of the aircraft, including the cockpit windscreen.

Lawan emphasized that the Vice President's life is at risk due to the aircraft's faulty condition, urging the Federal Government to acquire a new one to prevent any tragedy. He expressed gratitude to God for saving Shettima's life and those on board, while also calling for a thorough investigation into the incident.

Incident Details:

• Incident Location: JFK Airport in New York, USA
• Damage: Foreign object hit the plane, damaging the windscreen of the cockpit
• Consequence: Shettima's trip to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa was canceled

Lawan's plea echoes the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence's earlier directive to the Federal Government to purchase new aircraft for both President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima. However, only the President's aircraft was replaced, leaving Shettima with the old, faulty plane.

“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 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.

“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,” he said.

Early this year, the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence directed the Federal Government to purchase new aircraft for both President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, citing the need for enhanced security and reliability. However, the plan faced intense public backlash, resulting in only President Tinubu receiving a new aircraft, while Vice President Shettima was left with the outdated, faulty plane.

Developments:

Initial Directive: House Committee mandates new aircraft for both Tinubu and Shettima 

Public Scrutiny: Plan faces intense criticism, leading to revised decision

Current Status: Only President Tinubu has received a new aircraft, leaving Vice President Shettima's air travel safety concerns unaddressed

This disparity has raised concerns about the Vice President's safety, especially after recent incidents with his current aircraft.