Shettima needs new aircraft, Borno speaker tells FG

The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkareem Lawan, has appealed to the Federal Government to consider buying a new aircraft for Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The speaker, who made the appeal on Sunday in a statement, said Shettima’s life is at risk due to the faulty presidential aircraft he used to represent President Bola Tinubu in official engagements across the globe.

He said the aircraft designated to the vice president has had several incidents in recent times.

The statement reads, “I want to sympathise 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 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 for Senator Kashim Shettima so as to avoid these recurrences of air mishaps.”

This is coming a few days after Vice President Kashim Shetima cancelled his trip to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa over an incident at an airport in New York, United States.

In a statement issued on Thursday night, the presidency had said Shettima could not proceed to Samoa because a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.

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