News

Reps step down motion on Presidential Aircraft Malfunction

Published

6 months ago

May 15, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…as committee chair on National Security explain why, vow to probe PAF, NSA

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives on Wednesday at plenary stepped down a motion of urgent public importance on the need to investigate the malfunctioning of the Presidential Aircraft.

The lawmakers had divergent views on the discussion of the issue of the challenges on the Presidential and Vice Presidential Aircraft, as lawmaker believed that it should not be a motion to be debated on the floor of the House at plenary but the relevant committee should be responsible enough to exercise their power and investigate the matter.

Rep Ahmed Satomi member representing Jere Federal Constituency of Borno State, who moved a motion of urgent public importance noted that in April, President Bola Tinubu was forced to fly in a chartered plane from Netherlands to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attend the World Economic Forum.

He further noted that Vice President Kashim Shettima had to return back one house after embarking on a journey as the aircraft developed problems while airborne.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday was forced to cancel his trip to the United States where he was scheduled to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit, due to a fault with his aircraft.

Rep. Satome who is also the chairman House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, prayed the House to carry out a comprehensive investigation on the airworthiness and technical status of all the aircrafts in the presidential Air Fleet.

He also prayed the House to invite the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Commandant of the Presidential Air Fleet and any other relevant officer(s) of government to give detailed explanations on why the Fleet is not operating at optimum capacity needed to guarantee presidential safety.

While some were of the opinion that the President should use commercial flights to travel, others said it was a national embarrassment to the country for the president to do so.

Rep. Sada Soli, lawmaker representing Jibiya Federal Constituency of Katsina state, express sadness over the recent developments with the presidential aircraft despite the huge amount allocated to the Presidential Air Fleet, he therefore said the PAF and National Security Adviser be summoned to explain to the House.

“Mr. Speaker, today is a very sad day for me to speak on this issue. Mr Speaker, if this country should find itself in this kind of situation, I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. The life and security of the president and indeed the sovereignty of this country, perhaps even he vice president, had this kind of snipe wit h his aircraft.

“We don’t know what is going on within the administration of the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF). What is really going on? We know how much money this house has budgeted to take care of these presidential fleet. What is going on? That our president should be held at ransome at the assistance of our friends outside this country to charter a private aircraft, surrendering his security and the integrity of this country. I think Mr Speaker this is a very serious issue, I think this House should summon the office of the National Security Adviser who are managing the fleet, so that we will address this issue once and for all”, he stated.

In his contribution, the Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Ali Isah, member representing Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency of Gombe State, while supporting the call for investigation of the state of the presidential aircrafts, said the development should offer President Tinubu opportunity to travel by road to enable him understand the state of road infrastructure across the country.

He said, “While I join my Honourable colleagues in sympathising with the situation of our presidential aircraft, we love our president just like the Leader clearly stated, and not only our president we also love all the people in government.

“Mr Speaker, since an issue has been raised, I will advise that the president should suspend using the presidential aircraft. If there is a need, he can use either commercial or chartered aircraft and another option that will also help Nigeria. If the president can travel by road, then Nigerians will have hope that our roads will be repaired soon”.

This proposal did not sit well with Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu who presided over Wednesday’s plenary.

He said: “Are you saying Mr President, the number one leader should travel around by road?,” he asked rhetorically amid support from All Progressives Congress lawmakers.

Rep. Isah position was supported by the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Kingsley Chinda who argued that in Britain, the Prime Minister flies British Airways, and there’s anything wrong with a public officer using commercial transportation.

Rep. Chinda further advocated the resuscitation of a national career as a way out of the embarrassment.

He said: “Mr Speaker, very sincerely i have not seen anything wrong with a public office holder travelling in a public flight. The prime minister of United Kingdom flies British Airways, its commercial. So, I think that we should be thinking of how to resuscitate a national carrier”.

Addressing journalists Satomi said he stepped the motion not because it lacks merit or support but because he has the power to summon the NSA and the Commandant of the Presidential Air Fleet which is the major prayer in motion.

“I didn’t step down the motion because it lacks merit or support, it is because I have the power to summon the NSA and the Commandant of the Presidential Air Fleet, which is the prayer in that motion for them to explain.

“The Vice President last week was one hour airborne when the aircraft developed a problem and had to turn back. As I speak yo you this morning, he used a commercial flight to Kebbi, and the aircraft belongs to an individual.

“That aircraft belongs to the country that is whybthe presidential jet is called the “Airforce 1”. So therefore, it is a shame!

“When Mr. President wanted to leave from Riyadh to the United Kingdom, he used a chartered plane. In 21st century? No! Not Nigeria! Let’s be serious pls.

“Our fight defines our capacity believe it, and we have appropriated enough funds to my understanding for them to maintain these aircrafts. So that’s why I say the NSA should come and I want it to be public when he arrives. What is happening? We have all what it takes as a country not only to maintain the aircraft”.

“That aircraft belongs to the country that is why the presidential jet is called the “Airforce 1”. So therefore, it is a shame! When Mr. President wants to leave from Riyadh to the United Kingdom, he used a chartered plane. In 21st century? No! Not Nigeria! Let’s be serious pls.

News

Biden phones Tinubu over Binance executive, other issues

Published

17 mins ago

October 30, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

President Bola Tinubu has received a call from President Joe Biden of the United States of America.

The phone discussion which took place at about 4pm, Nigerian time, on Tuesday, lasted for about 30 minutes.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, while briefing state House Correspondents about the development.

The discussion centered about the recent release of the Head of Finance Crime compliance at Binance, Tigran Gambaryan.

Tuggar said, “The call was about the collaboration between the two countries with regards to law enforcement and law enforcement agencies as well as the release of one of the suspects of the crypto currency exchange company that you are all aware of.

“Mr President also thanked the US for the partnership and collaboration in numerous areas with regards to security in Africa and West Africa as as whole. President Biden assured President Tinubu that this is a partnership because the future of the world reside in Africa and as such, the partnership is important.

“The leaders also discussed the issue of permanent seat in the United Nations security Council and Biden assured the the united States is committed to seeing Africa having a permanent seat and does not see why one of those seats should belong to Nigeria.”

News

APC mourns as Deputy Director dies at 48

Published

22 mins ago

October 30, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Deputy Director in the Organization Department of the All Progressives Congress (APC), National Secretariat, Isaiah Edegbo, is dead.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, confirmed the demise of the senior staff member at its National Secretariat in a statement on Tuesday,

Morka stated that Edegbo, who hails from Kogi State, passed away at age 48 on Monday, October 28, in Abuja.

The APC chieftain said the deceased will be greatly missed.

The statement added, “He attended Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he earned a Diploma in Civil Law (1997), an LL.B (Hons) in 2003, an LL.M in Public Law in 2016, and was in the process of completing his PhD in Commercial Law.

“Despite being a trained lawyer, Isaiah Edegbo was known for his brilliance, thoroughness, and reliability, contributing significantly to the Party’s successful congresses, conventions, and election activities”.

News

Senate approves N24bn refund to Kebbi, Nasarawa for federal airport projects

Published

26 mins ago

October 30, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Senate has approved a request by President Bola Tinubu to refund a total of N24bn to Kebbi and Nasarawa states for executing airport projects on behalf of the federal government.

The approval was sequel to the presentation of a report by the Chairman on local and foreign debts, Senator Manu Haruna.

Tinubu had asked the Red Chamber to approve N15bn for Kebbi and N9bn for Nasarawa in May 2024.

At the time, the president said aviation, including airports, safety of aircraft and carriage of passengers and goods by air are managed by the federal government in line with the second schedule of the constitution.

There was no objection to the president’s request.

Supporting the committee chairman, Senator Aminu Abbas, said the request should be approved because of how important the infrastructure is to development and insecurity.

“Airport is very important when it comes to development and insecurity,” he said.

Also speaking, Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East), said his state recently got approval from the federal government to construct an airport.

“As soon as the project the completed, we will come here for a refund through promissory notes,” Jibrin said.

The request was approved after it was put to a voice vote by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin who presided over the plenary.