Reps panel meets commander of presidential air fleet over faulty aircraft 

The house of representatives committee on national security and intelligence, on Monday met with O. Oyesola, commander of the presidential air fleet. 

The meeting held behind closed doors at the National Assembly Complex and followed reports of faulty aircraft in the presidential air fleet.

Recently, President Bola Tinubu reportedly used a chartered aircraft from The Netherlands to Saudi Arabia after the presidential jet developed a fault.

Early this month, Vice-President Kashim Shettima cancelled his trip to the US due to a fault with his aircraft.

Last week, lawmakers in the lower legislative chamber debated the matter during plenary, expressing concerns over the conditions of the aircraft in the fleet.

Ali Isa, minority whip of the house, had said Tinubu should consider travelling by road or flying commercial for official duties. 

The house had resolved to invite Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), and the commander of the presidential air fleet.

Briefing journalists after the executive session, Satomi Ahmad, chairman of the committee, said a technical committee will be set up to interface with the officials at the presidential air fleet for a resolution.

“The committee has engaged the commandant of the presidential air fleet, the NSA and a lot has been discussed. It is a very sensitive national security issue that has to do with our president,” he said.

“And looking at our role in foreign policy position of Nigeria, this is not something that we will come out public and discuss. But nevertheless, a lot has been explained.

“The committee resolved to set up a small technical committee to interface with the NSA, commandant, and all the stakeholders within the shortest possible period of time and to come up with final resolution that will foster the best to Nigeria and to our president and the entire team of the presidential air fleet.

“So, I think for now the technical team will engage all the stakeholders in the presidential air fleet who have something to say. At the end, we will come up with a final resolution.

“But for now, we have not taken the decision. But we must have something that will represent Nigeria as a country.”

Asked by TheCable if the aircraft in the fleet need to be repaired or replaced, Ahmad said the committee is yet to take a decision.

“For now, we have not resolved on that. The entire presidential air fleet is okay for now. It is not the issue of whether to repair or to think of getting new ones,” he added.

“All what we know is that as a country with our position in global politics — we need something that will represent our image because our pride will show how Nigeria is.

“So, we are yet to conclude or finalise but they have explained enough. Some of the incidents are just media propaganda. It is not what we expected or what we thought happened. It is something different.”