Mark Gbillah, the former chairman of the Investigating Committee for Crude Oil Theft in the House of Representatives, has called for the lower house to make its investigation into the faulty presidential jet public.
Maintenance Concerns
Gbillah, who represented the Gwer East/Gwer West Federal constituency of Benue State in the 9th Assembly, believes that the jet’s issues may stem from a lack of maintenance, despite the aircraft being within its allowable lifespan. “I would encourage the National Assembly to make it public. Every decision concerning this issue should be made public,” Gbillah stated on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm. He emphasized the need for transparency and suggested inviting aviation experts to provide an accurate assessment of the presidential fleet’s condition.
Previous Recommendations and Incidents
The House of Representatives committee had previously recommended purchasing two new aircraft for the president and vice president. This recommendation came after the presidential jet developed a fault in the Netherlands in April, forcing the president to use a commercial flight to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh. Around the same time, Vice-President Kashim Shettima arrived in Ogun State in a chartered aircraft and later aborted a trip to the US mid-air due to an engine fault in his aircraft.
Advising Against New Purchases
Gbillah advised against purchasing new aircraft amid Nigeria’s deteriorating living conditions. “If there has been an investigation about what transpired with regards to the aircraft, it should be made public. We have professionals replete in this aviation sector with knowledge about the industry,” he said. He argued that the current issues might result from oversight or maintenance lapses, rather than the aircraft being fundamentally faulty. “I do not think this is a time to be procuring new aircraft, that is being insensitive,” he added.
Bottom Line
Mark Gbillah advocates for transparency in the investigation of the presidential jet’s issues, urging the National Assembly to make their findings public. He also cautions against purchasing new aircraft, suggesting that existing issues may be due to maintenance failures rather than the need for new equipment.
