The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, has raised alarm over the safety of Vice President Kashim Shettima, urging the Federal Government to procure a new aircraft for him due to repeated technical issues with his current plane.
Lawan expressed deep concerns over Shettima’s security as he continues to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at international engagements despite a series of recent flight malfunctions. The most recent incident occurred on September 24, 2024, when Shettima’s trip to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa was abruptly canceled. During a scheduled stopover at JFK Airport, the Vice President’s aircraft was struck by a foreign object, damaging the cockpit windscreen and grounding the flight.
This incident follows a call earlier this year by the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence for the replacement of both the President’s and Vice President’s aircraft. While a new aircraft was secured for President Tinubu, Shettima remains reliant on an older, increasingly unreliable plane.
Speaking from Maiduguri, Speaker Lawan expressed relief that Shettima and his team emerged unharmed. He urged the U.S. government to conduct a “thorough and timely investigation” into the incident at JFK, citing potential security vulnerabilities even at one of the world’s most secure airports.
“The life of the Vice President and his team is at risk with the continued use of an unreliable aircraft. I urge the Federal Government to prioritize acquiring a new plane for Vice President Shettima to prevent further incidents,” Lawan stated. He expressed sympathy to the Nigerian government and extended gratitude to Allah for safeguarding Shettima and his team during the recent scare.
