Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, has voiced concerns over the safety of Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, following a recent incident involving the presidential aircraft. Shettima, en route to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa, was forced to cancel his trip after the plane sustained damage from a “foreign object” during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.
According to the Presidency, the impact damaged parts of the aircraft, including the cockpit windscreen, leading to heightened concerns about the aircraft’s reliability and safety. In a statement on Sunday, Lawan urged the Nigerian government to prioritize the purchase of a new jet for the Vice President, citing risks posed by the “old and faulty” aircraft currently in use.

“I express my gratitude to Allah for sparing the life of our dear Vice President Kashim Shettima and all on board during this incident. I urge the Nigerian government to ensure a thorough investigation into this event, which occurred at one of the world’s most secure airports,” Lawan said.

Highlighting the potential dangers of continuing to use the aging presidential aircraft, Lawan stressed that both the Vice President and his crew are at risk. He appealed to federal authorities for an urgent upgrade to Shettima’s official transportation to prevent further air mishaps.