President Goodluck Jonathan and some top government officials on Saturday escaped an air mishap at the Minna Airport, Niger State, when a presidential jet developed a technical fault, while they were aboard.
The presidential jet, Nigerian Air Force 001 (5N-FGT), had earlier conveyed Jonathan to Minna for the -Peoples Democratic Party’s North-Central rally which held at the Trade Fair Centre, Minna.
At the end of the rally, the President returned to the airport in company with top government officials, PDP state governors and party chiefs for a trip to Sokoto, from where he was scheduled to return to Abuja.
However, several minutes after Jonathan had bade farewell to those who accompanied him to the airport, and the door of the aircraft was shut, the aircraft failed to move.
After many attempts, crew members and engineers disembarked from the aircraft and made spirited efforts to fix the fault as armed security men took strategic positions around it.
While this was going on, Vice-President Namadi Sambo; President of the Senate, David Mark; all PDP governors, members of the National Assembly and members of the Federal Executive Council were watching under the scorching sun.
When it became obvious that the fault could not be easily fixed, the commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Air Vice Marshal Uko Ebong, ordered that a smaller presidential jet, 5N-FGW, which conveyed the Vice-President to the state be brought to fly Jonathan.
Jonathan disembarked from the faulty jet at about 3.30pm and quickly moved to the smaller aircraft.
He later left the airport in the smaller aircraft at about 3:35pm, leaving behind some of his co-occupants in the bigger jet.
Sambo also had to join Mark in another smaller presidential jet, 5N-FGV, which had earlier conveyed the Senate President to the state. Senator Barnabas Gemade and a few other dignitaries also joined them.
Those who were with the President in the faulty aircraft before they disembarked included the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu; Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Tony Anenih; former chairman of the party, Ahmadu Ali; former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, and some presidential aides.
At the time of filing this report, engineers were still battling with the faulty jet on the tarmac in the deserted airport while officials of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria were seen taking notes.
Some security men were left behind to keep watch on the aircraft.
When asked for what was wrong with the aeroplane, an official of FAAN simply said, “The return engine refused to pick.”
Another source who pleaded anonymity, said the hot temperature in the city led to the fault.
“What the commander said was that the high temperature affected the engine of the aircraft,” he said.
When asked why the hot weather did not affect the two other presidential jets, the source explained that the Air Force 001 is “more digitalised than others.”
The incident occurred despite the fact that in the past four years, at least N48bn has been allocated to the Presidential Air Fleet, a range of 11 luxurious aircraft which are at the disposal of the President.
According to the 2014 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan through the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in December 2013, a total of N4.91bn was earmarked for the Presidential Air Fleet.
For the maintenance of the 10 aircraft currently in the Presidential Air Fleet, N1.52bn was allocated.
This was apart from the N747m earmarked for the purchase of aviation fuel for the aircraft already in the fleet.
The government earmarked the sum of N2.66bn for other expenses on the PAF, including international trainings for the fleet’s personnel, rehabilitation/renovation/repairs of the PAF Barracks, completion of a hangar project, tyre bay tools and equipment, insurance premium, cleaning and fumigation services, 797 units of LG 2HP air conditioners for the PAF Barracks and refreshment and meals.
For the year 2013, a total of N7.5bn was allocated the Presidential Air Fleet, while in 2012, N15.6m was allocated for personnel costs; N969m for overheads, which included spare parts, checks, aviation fuel; and N16.8bn was allocated for a brand new plane for the presidency.
In 2011, an N18bn allocation to the PAF was tucked under a N105bn budgetary allocation to the “Intelligence Community.”
Also, in the 2010 proposal, the Presidency had proposed the acquisition of four new aircraft for the presidential fleet and had made a budget provision of N23.4bn in that budget for them.
Experts have put the combined estimated value of the 10 planes in the presidential fleet at about $390.5m (N60.53bn). Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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God is watching and this should be seen as some sort of warning to the thieving politicians.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a ploy to justify the need for another aircraft. If indeed it was faulty, they should fix it. 5 planes is enough for the presidency. The extra five should be sold while good maintenance culture should be imbibed.
ReplyDeleteGood talk
DeleteHow can hot weather stop an engine that has been resting from starting? An engine should be hot when running. Outside temperature which could not have exceeded 48 degrees Celsius cannot be an issue. We deserve to know the truth. Stop the pranks to justify the need for another aircraft. If we can't maintain 10 , we can't maintain 11
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't d bloody thing just wait until the idiots were airborne...say 5mins into d flight...n then loose engine power in all engines n come crashing down..so we'd be rid of these scum for good...KAI...planes sha...dey don't know wen to fall do they?...anyways...more bad luck to them next time dey fly
ReplyDeleteMay God forgive you for wishing another someone's death.
Deletemay untimely death meet you and your entire family. idiot of the highest order. book haram have u not suck enough blood abi? still thirsty for more, not that of my precious president. u fool!
DeleteOh boy....better luck next time...
DeleteHE IS A STUPID BOY........I KNOW HIM, NA BOKO ERRAND BOY......NA HIM DEY BUY BREAD & BEANS AND POOR(sp) WATER FOR THEM.
DeleteDEY WILL SOON DIE TOGETHER!
OUR PRESIDENT WILL NOT DIE BUT LIVE!
BECAUSE, THERE IS NO GAIN FOR US IF HE DIES ........DEY WON'T MAKE U PRESIDENT IF DAT HAPPEN...GOD FORBID.
Realy mad! I think we are been rewarded for voting for a man with "no shoes"and want to steal so much to buy shoes.....
ReplyDeleteThank God
ReplyDeleteMen look @ d figures this is too much for jst 1 man, well dat is wat we gain wen we do nt vote d right pple. He jst wnt to looke for avenue to raise mny for 2015 election
ReplyDeleteCoward Nigerians, you aren't see nothing yet. He ones cried that he has no shoe, now he flies like eagle. Did he knows that there are thousands of Bayelsans that can't travel to Port Harcourt by public transport. If they ever do go and see how rickety the means of transportation look like. Shame on Asari Dokubo and others. They have gotten their shares. Is that how to fight the people. Please stop deceiving your people. Note the people are better informed compare to six years behind.
ReplyDeleteAll of you are insane if you want to become a leader you will not be talking like that even if a man is not good will shld be helping them with prayer nobody is higher learn and nobody is perfect what u do to ur fellow men will stil aplicable to u...if u plan evil to ur men be expecting such to urself u turn a whole president to ordinary person shame
ReplyDeleteAll of you are insane if you want to become a leader you will not be talking like that even if a man is not good will shld be helping them with prayer nobody is higher learn and nobody is perfect what u do to ur fellow men will stil aplicable to u...if u plan evil to ur men be expecting such to urself u turn a whole president to ordinary person shame
ReplyDeleteGuy! Fyi! He's an ordinary person!!! He is not a god.
DeleteHe's the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, the most populous African nation. an oil rich country. he deserves the best. stop reducing him to an ordinary street person. He is our no 1 man weather u like him or not doesn't count here dear.
Deleteall na wash make they go take several seat its just a poly to justify the new toy oga Jona wan buy. may god save Nigeria from all these guys
ReplyDeleteMake God have mercy on u people. If u r wishing ur leader bad, u will never live to become a leader. This is my prayers to u. I thank God for saving our good n humble president.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between our flamboyant and wasteful life of our leader and responsible Africa Lady President.
ReplyDelete" Malawi President Joyce Banda Sells Presidential Jet For $15 Million To Aid Her Poor Country
Reuters | Posted: 05/22/2013 5:34 am EDT"
Mr. no shoes years back, expensive jets from FG account that is God bless to all Nigerians, where is fear of God?
From the way the sycophants surrounding Mr. no shoes are pushing him, i pray God guides him right to watch out before they kill him. The amount of money wasted on fleet of aircraft just bought for him and his cronies must be investigated. Unless Mr. no shoes supported refurbished aircraft brought to the presidency, urgent actions are needed to get to the root of the rubbish sent to looters in Nigeria.
The point is that those of you who criticize the president and ridicle him are no better .goven the opportunity he has to you .some will turn to monsters and finish Nig on a day .what if indeed the plane develped fault .Even an ordinary LG chairman today goes for a brand new jeep when elected to power.is it because its Jonathan.thank God he is even polite to request for money .some of our past leaders will finish buying the plane before you know it.We have a NA .if they see reason then so be it .if it were OBAMA .we will be celebrating him and to think of someone wishing the president dead must be a boko haram blood tasty member.
ReplyDeleteThe point is that those of you who criticize the president and ridicle him are no better .goven the opportunity he has to you .some will turn to monsters and finish Nig on a day .what if indeed the plane develped fault .Even an ordinary LG chairman today goes for a brand new jeep when elected to power.is it because its Jonathan.thank God he is even polite to request for money .some of our past leaders will finish buying the plane before you know it.We have a NA .if they see reason then so be it .if it were OBAMA .we will be celebrating him and to think of someone wishing the president dead must be a boko haram blood tasty member.
ReplyDeleteSome of who open ur mouth to talk have not even ask y ur fathers in d house cannot control d members of d house. Can u wish ur father death. The noba citizen of dis country is whom u are wishing death. May d good God 4give u all who is wish GEJ death bcuz d end shall justify d means. It is my bliv dat most of u are blind and mediocres. May I re-asure u dat d same GEJ u guys are condeming today,u will praise tomoro. The truth is not far fetched.
ReplyDeleteLong live Nigeria
Long live GEJ
Long live Emmanuel Kingsland
Thank you my good brother, may ur days be long and fruitful. anyone who wishes another untimely death, may untimely death meet them and their generation. evil people.
Deletethe moderators of these post are either lazy or are swallowing their own words. they said no swearing and bad language and here someone wants the president of the federal republic of Nigeria dead and they posted it. hypocrites
ReplyDeletehave u not realized that Nigerian eyes are anti GEJ?
ReplyDelete