The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, has expressed serious concerns regarding the safety of Nigeria’s Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, following an incident involving the vice-president’s aircraft during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.
Lawan highlighted that Shettima's life is at risk due to the aging and "faulty" presidential jet he uses, urging the Nigerian government to provide a new aircraft for the vice-president's travels. The incident involved a “foreign object” striking the plane, which resulted in damage to several parts, including the cockpit windscreen. This damage forced Shettima to cancel his planned trip to the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa.
In a statement issued from Maiduguri on Sunday, October 27, Speaker Lawan expressed relief that the vice-president and his team were safe but emphasized the urgent need for action. “I want to sympathize with the Nigerian Government, especially the office of the Vice-President, his crew, and staff over the unfortunate incident at JFK Airport,” he stated.
He also called for a “thorough and timely investigation” by U.S. authorities into the incident, noting the significance of safety at one of the world’s most secure airports. Lawan stressed that the risks associated with the aging presidential jet are unacceptable, stating, “The life of the Vice-President, and that of his crew/officials, stand at risk while using the old and faulty presidential aircraft