Borno speaker: Shettima urgently needs a new aircraft — his life is at risk

Abdulkarim Lawan, speaker of the Borno state house of assembly, says vice-president Kashim Shettima needs a new aircraft urgently.

On October 25, the vice-president aborted his trip to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government (CHOGM) summit in Apia, Samoa.

Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, had said Shettima’s trip was cancelled due to damage to his aircraft.

Onanuga said a “foreign object” damaged the cockpit’s windshield. The incident occurred during a stopover at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, US.

In a statement issued Sunday, Lawan said Shettima’s life is at risk, adding that the vice president needs a new aircraft.

“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,” the statement reads.

“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 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 an urgent need to acquire a new aircraft to Senator Kashim Shettima so as to avoid these recurrence of air mishaps.”

In August, the presidency confirmed the purchase of a new airbus A330 for President Bola Tinubu.

The aircraft was acquired two months after the house of representatives committee on national security and intelligence asked the federal government to procure new aircraft for Tinubu and Shettima.