Chairman House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Hon. Ahmed Satomi, has given reason for the stepping down of a motion he sponsored on the urgent need to investigate the airworthiness of all aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet to forestall unwarranted national tragedy.
Satomi, who represents Jere Federal Constituency of Borno State had at plenary on Wednesday moved a motion, praying the House to carry out a comprehensive investigation on the airworthiness and technical status of all the aircraft in the presidential Air Fleet.
He also prayed the House to invite the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Commandant of the Presidential Air Fleet and any other relevant officer(s) of government to give detailed explanations on why the Fleet is not operating at optimum capacity needed to guarantee presidential safety.
Satomi lamented the reports on various media platforms that President Bola Tinubu was forced to travel to Saudi Arabia on a Chartered flight for the World Economic Forum in Riyadh from the Netherlands and a faulty Presidential jet which occurred May 6 that aborted Vice President Kashim Shetima’s trip to the United States of America for the 2024 Us-Africa Business Summit in Dallas Texas.
But after moving the motion, it was stepped down by the leave of the House, presided by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu on the ground that the mover who is the Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Intelligence has powers to summon the NSA, the Commandant of the Presidential Air Fleet and the other relevant officer(s) of government.
Addressing journalists Satomi said he stepped in not because it lacks merit or support but because he has the power to summon the NSA and the commandant of the Presidential Air Fleet which is the major prayer in motion.
“The vice president last week was one hour airborne when the aircraft developed a problem and had to turn back. As I speak to you this morning, he used a commercial flight to Kebbi, and the aircraft belongs to an individual.
“That aircraft belongs to the country that is why the presidential jet is called the “Air Force 1”. Therefore, it is a shame! When Mr. President wanted to leave from Riyadh to the United Kingdom, so he used a chartered plane. In the 21st century? No! Not Nigeria! Let’s be serious pls.
“Our fight defines our capacity, believe it, and we have appropriated enough funds to my understanding for them to maintain these aircraft. So that’s why I say the NSA should come and I want it to be public when he arrives. What is happening? We have all it takes as a country not only to maintain the aircraft,” he added.
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