The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, has expressed his worries regarding the well-being and safety of Nigeria’s Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, after an incident involving the vice-president’s aircraft in the United States.
Borno Speaker claims that Shettima’s life is at danger and calls for a new plane for the vice president
Lawan expressed his deep concerns over the safety of Vice President Shettima due to the aging and potentially faulty presidential jet he utilizes for travel. He strongly recommends that the Nigerian Government prioritize the procurement of a new aircraft to ensure the Vice President’s well-being and uninterrupted official duties.
The incident occurred during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York, where a “foreign object” reportedly hit the plane, damaging parts of the aircraft, including the cockpit windscreen. The damage forced Shettima to cancel his trip to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa.
In a statement from Maiduguri, Borno State, on Sunday, October 27, Speaker Lawan expressed relief over the safety of the vice-president and his team but emphasized the need for urgent action. “I want to sympathize with the Nigerian Government, especially the office of the Vice-President, his crew, and staff over the unfortunate incident at JFK Airport,” he stated. Lawan also called on the Nigerian Government to seek a “thorough and timely investigation” from U.S. authorities regarding the incident at one of the world’s most secure airports.
Drawing attention to the potential hazards associated with the aging presidential jet, Lawan emphasized the significance of procuring a new aircraft for Vice-President Shettima. He respectfully stated, “The safety and well-being of the Vice-President, along with the crew and officials, are at risk when utilizing the current aging and malfunctioning presidential aircraft.” Furthermore, he highlighted the urgent need to acquire a new aircraft to prevent any unfortunate air mishaps from occurring in the future.
