The House of Representatives has expressed apprehension regarding the state of the Presidential Air Fleet following reports that President Bola Tinubu chartered a private aircraft for official trips to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
Concerns were heightened during a session after lawmaker Ahmad Satomi brought forward a motion of urgent importance.
The House voiced fears that this reliance on chartered flights could compromise the President’s security and reflect poorly on Nigeria internationally.
The motion stemmed from reports of a presidential jet encountering mechanical issues during the President’s visit to the Netherlands in April.
In response, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda argued that public officials, including the President, could utilize commercial flights without issue.
While the motion was temporarily deferred, the House urged relevant security committees to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
The condition of the Presidential Air Fleet has drawn increasing scrutiny in recent times.
Last week, a malfunctioning presidential jet prevented Vice President Kashim Shettima from attending the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit.
Additionally, last December, a presidential aircraft, the Falcon 900B, was put up for sale by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), inviting bids from interested parties for its purchase.
