Akpabio: N’assembly will consider request for new presidential jet if necessary

Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the national assembly will consider the purchase of a new presidential jet if the request is necessary.

Speaking on the floor of the senate on Thursday, Akpabio said there is no request before the national assembly to appropriate money to buy a new jet.

In April, President Bola Tinubu resorted to a commercial flight to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh after the aircraft he travelled with to The Netherlands developed a fault.

Around the same time, Vice-President Kashim Shettima was seen arriving in Ogun state in a chartered aircraft.

The vice-president later aborted his trip to the US mid-air after the aircraft transporting him developed an engine fault.

Two committees of the national assembly have recommended that two aircraft be bought for the use of the president and vice-president.

The senate president said the national assembly cares about the president’s welfare.

“We care about the president, and we care about the Nigerian people. We will approve things that will benefit the Nigerian people,” Akpabio said.

“We will approve things that would improve the living standards of the people. At the same time, we will also take cognisance of the duties of the president.

“If his vehicle is bad, we will repair the vehicle. If his plane is bad, we will approve money for the repair of the plane. So that is not an issue.

“The senate is very responsible. The national assembly is very responsible. We will look into issues that will benefit the governance of the country.

“Irrespective of anticipatory blackmail, because those people know very well that something like that might come in the future. And if it’s a necessity, the senate will look into it. But there is nothing like that before us now.”