Metro

Despite hardship, Nigerian lawmakers push for new jets for Tinubu, Shettima

Published

4 months ago

June 15, 2024

Despite the hardship and pervasive hunger Nigerians are going through occasioned by the drastic economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, members of the National Assembly are pushing to purchase new presidential jets for the President and Vice President.

The recommendations for the purchase of the new jets, according to reports, were made by the Committee on National Security and Intelligence in the House of Representatives and is expected to get the nod of the Presidency for the purchase of the planes to sail through.

An exclusive report carried out by a reputable media outfit during the week had revealed that the committee made the proposition in a report issued after its technical subcommittee conducted a hearing on the status and airworthiness of aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF).

The committee report which was signed by its chairperson, Ahmed Satomi, and the clerk, Makwe Eric, showed that it had already been forwarded to the presidency for action.

“The Committee is of the strong and informed opinion that considering the fragile structure of the Nigerian federation and recognising the dire consequences of any foreseen or unforeseen mishap that may arise as a result of technical/operational inadequacy of the Presidential Air Fleet, it is in the best interest of the country to procure two additional aircraft as recommended,” the report read in part.

Further investigations reveal that plans to buy new aircrafts for the president and vice president began as early as February this year despite the hues and cries from Nigerians due to the pains and agony they have been subjected to since the present administration came into power in 2023.

The investigation also revealed that the federal government was tired of spending humongous amount of money in maintaining the aircraft in the fleet as the maintenance of the presidential fleet between the routine maintenance and purchase of parts, the aircraft had been guzzling huge amounts of money.

It was gathered that Tinubu had put a hold on the move due to anticipated backlash that would follow any move to buy new aircrafts for the presidential fleet considering the economic downturn in the country, as millions of citizens battle every day to feed owing to impacts of some of the reforms of the current administration.

However, while justifying their call for new aircraft for Tinubu and Shettima, members of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence said their recommendation was based on available facts.

“This will also prove to be most cost-efficient in the long run apart from the added advantage of providing a suitable, comfortable and safe carrier befitting of the status and responsibilities of the office of the president and vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the committee said.

The panel said a new aircraft befitting the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be procured, taking into consideration the country’s leading role in the West African, African, and global scheme of affairs.

“That for ease of administration and in order to guarantee a secure and dedicated main and backup fleet for the office of the president at all times, it is recommended that a new aircraft akin to Air Force Two of the USA be procured for the office of the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the subcommittee added.

“This can also serve the office of the presiding officers of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, etc., as appropriate.”

Related Topics:Featured Hardship lawmakers Nigeria Presidential Jets

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Metro

‘You’re better off in retirement, drinking in peace’, Zambian President taunts predecessor

Published

3 days ago

October 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has told his predecessor, Edgar Lungu, that he should forget the presidency in 2026 as he is better off in retirement where he can drink in peace.

Hichilema, who spoke to supporters of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) in Mazabuka district on Tuesday, told Lungu that his “buttocks are glued” to the presidential seat, advising Lungu to continue “drinking in peace” because his dream of bouncing back to power was unattainable.

He added that he had sympathy for Lungu who has claimed he would return to the political arena.

“He is better off being in retirement so that he can be drinking in peace,” Hichilema said.

“Someone who is drunk wants to come back to the presidency seat. Where will he sit? You drink and get drunk, then you want to come back to the presidency seat, the seat which I have already taken with my buttocks glued to it, so where will he sit?” he wondered.

Hichilema further dismissed Lungu’s aspirations of returning to power as far-fetched, emphasizing, “I’m not leaving anytime soon.”

He recounted watching Lungu rant from a distance, saying he was not moved by his claims because he perceived Lungu as a drunk man.

“When I hear him talking about bouncing back to power, I peep, and I am like, ‘You are drunk; just sit down and continue drinking every day,’” he remarked.

The President insisted that no one would want to return to the era of the Patriotic Front (PF) which he said individuals were beaten for expressing their political beliefs.

“These people want to take away the free education; they want to take away the increased CDF, which was not correct. We cannot allow people who used to beat us just for wearing red,” he stated.

He pointed out that under the PF’s rule, people were arrested simply for being associated with the UPND, but now it was the PF’s turn to face consequences for their violent behavior.

Hichilema also cautioned all UPND members against claiming that he had already won the 2026 election, warning that such assertions could lead to serious trouble.

Metro

Nigeria: EFCC says country loses $500m to cybercrime annually

Published

3 days ago

October 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Chairman of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, says the country loses over $500 million annually to various forms of cybercrimes.

Olukoyede, who made the disclosure on Tuesday at the National Cybercrime Summit organised by the EFCC in collaboration with the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme of the International (IDEA) in Abuja, noted that an estimated $500m was lost to the scourge in 2022, adding that cybercrime suspects got a larger share of the 3,455 convictions recorded by EFCC in his one year in office.

He added that projections by multiple sources show that the global loss to cybercrime may reach a staggering $10.5tn.

“As a matter of fact, the research I did earlier this year confirmed that cybercrime has become the third largest GDP in the world with approximately 2,328 cases occurring daily,” the EFCC boss said.

“The implication of all this is that if left unchecked, cybercrimes pose grave dangers to the entire world.

“Bringing it to Nigeria, in 2022 alone, Nigeria lost over $500 million to cybercrimes. These are the realities driving the commission’s fight against these crimes.

“Cybercrime accounts for a significant percentage of the 3,455 convictions recorded by EFCC in my one year as the Executive Chairman of EFCC.

“A significant portfolio of choice assets has also been recovered and returned to both local and foreign victims of cybercrimes by the commission.

“We are not oblivious of insinuations and misconceptions in some quarters,’ Olukoyede, noting that as part of measures to curb crime, the anti-graft agency was building a cybercrime research centre.

“We are putting up a Cybercrime Research Centre in collaboration with one of the fintechs in Nigeria.

“It’s a centre that will take a minimum of 500 young Nigerians at a time and train them in cyber security and all areas of cybercrime research so that we’ll be able to make something out of them,” he added.