Abdulkarim Lawan, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, has expressed serious concerns regarding the safety of Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, citing the “defective” presidential aircraft utilized for his travels.
The Vice President was compelled to cancel his attendance at the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa after a concerning incident at JFK Airport in New York, where a “foreign object” struck his plane during a layover.
The Presidential Office has verified that parts of the aircraft, including the cockpit windscreen, sustained damage from the incident.
In a statement released on Sunday in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, Lawan called on the Nigerian Government to invest in a new aircraft for Shettima.
He remarked, “I extend my sympathies to the Nigerian Government, particularly the office of the Vice President, as well as his team, following the unfortunate event at JFK Airport in the United States.”
Lawan continued, “I am also thankful to Allah for sparing the life of our esteemed Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, and all those aboard the compromised flight. I strongly urge the Nigerian government to seek a comprehensive and prompt investigation by the United States regarding the issue that impacted the Vice President’s plane in such a high-security environment.”
He emphasized, “The lives of the Vice President and his official entourage are jeopardized when operating with the outdated and malfunctioning presidential aircraft.”
Consequently, he underscored the pressing need for the acquisition of a new aircraft for Senator Kashim Shettima to prevent any future aviation incidents.
