The Presidency, on Thursday explained why the Presidential jet that
conveyed President Muhammadu Buhari to London was yet to return to
Nigeria while Buhari undergoes medical treatment.
A statement by Buhari’s Special Senior Assistant on Media and
Publicity, Garba Shehu explained that the jet was still in London for
“reasons of protocol, national security, diplomacy and prestige.”
Shehu made the disclosure while reacting to outrage that has trailed
reports that Buhari’s Presidential jet was parked in London while he,
Buhari, is undergoing medical treatment.
Reports had it that the Presidential jet was accruing heavy finance
due to its retention in London as the President is undergoing treatment.
Reacting to the report, Shehu, in a statement sent to DAILY POST
said, “The Presidency is constrained to decry criticisms, mostly on
social media, on the retention in London of the Presidential Aircraft,
NAF 001 as mostly informed by lack of understanding of protocol around
foreign trips by Heads of State all over the world.
“It is important to state that for reasons of protocol, national
security, diplomacy and prestige, there is no world leader who travels
abroad and is left without plans for immediate return or possible
evacuation.
“From operational point of view, this country’s Armed Forces as
represented by the Nigeria Air Force are not to abandon their
Commander-In-Chief in whichever circumstance he is. This is a standard
operating procedure.
“We have also read claims about outrageous fees allegedly paid by
Nigeria. The published amounts are totally untrue. Aircraft conveying
heads of state all over the world usually enjoy waivers even where
payments for parking are differentiated by aircraft categories.
“We been assured that where the waiver is not granted, payment will
not exceed £1,000, which is a quarter of the amount being peddled.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this President is not the first to have a
presidential aircraft standing by for him, as he will certainly not be
the last.
“All past Heads of this country have had this privilege, and the part
that surprises the most is that leaders who in the past travelled with
three Nigerian aircraft did not suffer this trenchant criticism.
”We appeal to Nigerians to ignore opposition campaign aimed at derailing this administration’s big plans for the country.
“This is a government that is constructing the Second Niger Bridge,
the Mambila Power Plant, the East-West and the North-South standard
gauge railway lines.”
The Presidency also asserted that the Buhari-led Federal Government
has saved Nigeria of an annual loss of two trillion naira from
fraudulent petroleum subsidy schemes by influential citizens and their
children.
Shehu said the Buhari-led government also rid the public service of about 50,000 ghost workers.
“We are a government that has saved this country an annual loss of
two trillion Naira from fraudulent petroleum subsidy schemes by
influential citizens and their children, and rid the public service of
about 50,000 ghost workers.
“The Buhari administration certainly deserves a chance,” he said.