Borno Speaker Abdulkarim Lawan has raised concerns about Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s safety following an incident with his aircraft at JFK Airport. Lawan urges the Nigerian Government to procure a new plane, citing risks linked to the aging presidential jet
Borno State House of Assembly, has expressed grave concerns for Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s safety following a recent incident with the vice-president's aircraft in the United States. Lawan claimed the aging and reportedly "faulty" presidential jet poses significant risks and urged the Nigerian government to provide a new aircraft for Shettima's travels.
The aircraft issue arose during a stopover at New York's JFK Airport when a “foreign object” allegedly struck the plane, damaging parts of it, including the cockpit windscreen. The incident compelled Shettima to cancel his trip to a Commonwealth Summit in Samoa. In a public statement from Maiduguri on October 27, Lawan expressed relief that Shettima and his team were unharmed. However, he emphasized the importance of a "timely and thorough investigation" into the incident by U.S. authorities, given JFK Airport's high-security standards.
Lawan reiterated the need for a new, safer aircraft, highlighting that continued reliance on an outdated jet endangers the vice-president and his entourage. "The life of the Vice-President and his crew stands at risk with the current presidential jet," he stated, urging the government to act swiftly to prevent potential mishaps in the future.
