A member of the House of Representatives, Ali Isa, has suggested that President Bola Tinubu consider using commercial flights or traveling by road due to the persistent issues with the presidential aircraft. This recommendation came during a motion to investigate the state of the presidential fleet, presented by the Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Satomi Ahmed.
Recently, the President had to use a commercial aviation operator to travel to an economic summit in Saudi Arabia after his primary luxury jet went for repairs and a backup aircraft encountered technical issues in The Netherlands. Similarly, Vice President Kashim Shettima canceled his trip to the United States due to issues with the presidential jet.
Isa suggested that using commercial or chartered aircraft could be a viable option, and traveling by road could even have a positive impact on the nation’s infrastructure. However, his proposal was met with opposition from the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who questioned the practicality of traveling by road to Europe.
The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, intervened, allowing Isa to continue his contribution. The discussion highlights the need for a reliable and efficient presidential fleet, as well as exploring alternative transportation options for the President and Vice President.