The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, has expressed serious concerns over the safety of Vice-President Kashim Shettima, citing repeated technical issues with the presidential aircraft assigned to him.
Lawan’s warning follows a recent incident in which Shettima’s plane was damaged during a stopover at John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York, forcing him to cancel his trip to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa.
According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the vice-president’s aircraft was hit by a foreign object at JFK Airport, causing damage to parts of the plane, including the windscreen of the cockpit. This prompted Shettima to abort the trip.
Reacting to the incident in a statement issued from Maiduguri on Sunday, Lawan urged the Federal Government to prioritize Shettima’s safety by providing him with a new aircraft, highlighting that this was not the first issue with the 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 (God) for saving the precious life of our dear Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, and those on board the ill-fated plane,” Lawan stated.
He further called for a thorough investigation into the incident, emphasizing the unusual occurrence of such an event at one of the world’s most secure airports.
“The Nigerian government should demand a timely and thorough investigation from the United States government over the incident that affected Vice President Kashim Shettima’s plane,” Lawan added.
Lawan warned that the vice-president’s life, along with that of his crew, is at risk due to the aging and faulty presidential aircraft.
“The life of the Vice President, and that of his crew and officials, stand at risk while using the old and faulty presidential aircraft. Therefore, there is an urgent need to acquire a new aircraft for Senator Kashim Shettima to avoid these recurrent air mishaps,” he said.
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence had recommended the acquisition of new aircraft for both President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima. While Tinubu’s new aircraft was acquired, Shettima continues to rely on the older plane, a decision that has now come under fresh scrutiny following the latest incident.