The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkareem Lawan, has urged the Federal Government to acquire a new aircraft for Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement on Sunday, Lawan expressed concerns for Shettima’s safety, citing issues with the aging presidential aircraft he has been using to represent President Bola Tinubu at international events. He noted that this aircraft has encountered multiple problems recently.
Lawan stated, “I want to extend my sympathies to the Nigerian Government, particularly to the Vice President’s office and his team, following the unfortunate incident at JFK Airport in New York. I’m also grateful to Allah for sparing the life of our esteemed Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, and everyone on board the compromised plane. It’s crucial that the Nigerian government seeks a thorough investigation from the United States regarding the incident that occurred in such a secure location.”
He emphasized the dangers posed to the Vice President and his staff while utilizing the outdated aircraft, highlighting the urgent need for a replacement to prevent further aviation incidents.
This appeal comes just days after Vice President Shettima had to cancel his trip to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa due to an incident at JFK Airport, where a foreign object struck his plane during a stopover, as confirmed by the presidency in a statement released on Thursday night.