A civil society organisation, Centre for Good Governance and Probity, has expressed deep concern over reports that President Bola Tinubu has been travelling in a chartered plane rather than using the presidential aircraft for official engagements.
The group, in a statement, yesterday, and signed by its National Coordinator, Gabriel Uwosu, said it is, indeed, a disgrace to Nigeria’s image in the comity of nations that its president attends state functions within and outside the country in chartered aircraft.
The group expressed worry about the security implications of the president’s lack of official aircraft, noting that it is laughable that Nigeria, as rich as it is, has moribund planes in its presidential fleet.
“While we understand the need for flexibility and security considerations, the use of chartered planes raises significant questions about national security and the integrity of the presidency. The presidential aircraft is a symbol of the Nigerian state, designed with advanced security features to protect the head of state. Its use is crucial for ensuring the safety and security of the president during both domestic and international travel.
“By relying on a chartered plane, there are concerns that critical security protocols and procedures may be compromised. This could leave the president vulnerable and expose sensitive information about his movements and activities.
“Additionally, the optics of the president not using official state aircraft sends the wrong message to both citizens and the international community about the seriousness of the office.
“We call on those concerned to take immediate action to rectify the situation. Nigerians deserve to have confidence that their president is being protected with the utmost care and that the dignity of the office is being upheld,” the group said in the statement.
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