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.
By Seun Opejobi
