The Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied claims that the 10th Senate was proposing the procurement of new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Akpabio who addressed journalists in Maiduguri, described the claims as false.
According to a Tuesday statement by his media aide, Jackson Udom, the Senate President was in Borno State to pay a condolence visit to Senator Tahir Monguno over the death of his father.
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Akpabio was quoted to have said, “I want to dispel the rumour that you are hearing that the Senate President said he will buy a new plane for the President and his Vice, irrespective of the fact that Nigerians are hungry or whatever.
“I never said that. I was actually in Zanzibar, Tanzania, It is the handiwork of propagandists and fifth columnists, who never see anything good in what we are doing. Be rest assured, pray for the government, have patience, and be assured that the combination of Tinubu and Shettima will bring wealth and prosperity to all.”
Akpabio said the claim was from propagandists and fifth columnists, stressing that the Senate was focused on delivering legislation that would support the actualisation of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He expressed satisfaction with the present security situation of Borno State, urging Nigerians to continue to pray for the present administration.
“I am happy to see that peace has returned to Borno, as a result of the handwork of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I want to tell the good people of Borno to continue to support the administration.”
However, it will be recalled that, the house of the representatives committee on national security and intelligence, has asked the federal government to purchase new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
The committee’s recommendation is contained in a report released after its investigation into the status of the aircraft in the presidential air fleet.
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The report reads, “The committee is of the solid and informed opinion that, considering the fragile structure of the Nigerian federation and recognising the dire consequences of any foreseen or unforeseen mishap that may arise as a result of the technical or operational inadequacy of the presidential air fleet, it is in the best interest of the country to procure two additional aircraft as recommended.
“This will also prove to be most cost-efficient in the long run, apart from the added advantage of providing a suitable, comfortable, and safe carrier befitting of the status and responsibilities of the office of the president and vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In May, the house of representatives mandated the committee to conduct a “comprehensive investigation” into the aircraft in the presidential fleet to ascertain their airworthiness and technical status.
The house resolution was a sequel to a motion sponsored by Satomi Ahmed, chairman of the house committee.
There was a heated debate on the floor of the house when the motion was moved.
Some lawmakers suggested that the president should travel via commercial aircraft or by road.
Ahmed’s motion followed reports of faulty aircraft in the presidential air fleet, forcing the president to use a chartered plane from the Netherlands to Saudi Arabia during his recent trip abroad.
Shettima had also cancelled his trip to the United States due to a fault with his aircraft.
The vice-president was to represent Tinubu at the 2024 US-Africa business summit.
On May 20, the committee met with O. Oyesola, commandant of the presidential air fleet, over the matter.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Ahmed said the committee would set up a technical committee to interface with the officials at the presidential air fleet and come up with a resolution.
