The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the arrival of 150 stranded Nigerians repatriated from the Chad Republic.

The agency, in a statement on Wednesday, said the repatriated Nigerians include 71 children, 48 females, eight infants, and 23 men.

It said the evacuated Nigerians arrived at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday at about 8:30 pm.

“The Nigerians were assisted back in a voluntary repatriation exercise programme by the United Nations International Organisation for Migration (UN’IOM) on Tuesday, 14th, 2024,” the agency said.

“The flight Air Cargo with registration number SU-BUR landed at the cargo wing of Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at about 2030 hours.

“The profiles of the returnees indicate that 23 males, 48 females, 71 children, and 8 infants arrived in Nigeria aboard the flight.

“Some of the returnees demonstrated their joy at the success of their return back to Nigeria. Agencies on the ground to receive the Nigerians were NEMA, Immigration Services, Nigeria Port Health Services, FAAN, and the Nigeria Refugee Commission.”

Last year, 104 stranded Nigerians were repatriated from N’Djamena, the capital of the Chad Republic.

The house of representatives, on Wednesday, expressed its concern over the status of the presidential air fleet.

Following a resolution by House Committee on National Security and Intelligence Chairman Satomi Ahmed to conduct a “comprehensive investigation” to determine the airworthiness and technical status of the presidential fleet, the MPs addressed the issue during Wednesday’s plenary session.

Following a malfunction with the presidential plane, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly took a rented aircraft from the Netherlands to Saudi Arabia.

Vice President Kashim Shettima had to postpone his travel to the US at the beginning of this month because of an aeroplane malfunction. Shettima was supposed to speak for Tinubu at the US-Africa business summit in 2024.

“Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was originally scheduled to represent the President, was unable to make the trip following a technical fault with his aircraft, forcing him to make a detour on the advice of the Presidential Air Fleet,” Stanley Nkwocha, a media aide to Shettima, said in a statement.

The president was, instead, represented by Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, at the event.

While moving the motion, Ahmed said the faulty aircraft in the presidential fleet “pose a clear present and imminent threat to the lives of the president, the vice president, and other very important personalities who use the fleet from time to time”.

The lawmaker said the situation has brought “shame and embarrassment” to the country.

Ahmed said the “ugly situation” should be “arrested” to “forestall any fearful tragedy that might pose an existential threat to the peace and unity of this country”.

In his contribution, Ali Isa, the minority whip, said the president and the vice-president do not need to use a presidential aircraft for their official trips.

Julius Ihonvbere, the majority leader, said due to security implications, the safety of the president must not be left in the hands of commercial airlines.

“Don’t take anything for granted. We must ensure that the officers leading the country are protected and given the dignity they deserve,” Ihonvbere said.

Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, said there is no harm if the president uses commercial flights.

The lawmaker said the parliament should not spend legislative time discussing whether or not the president of his vice should fly commercial flights.

“I have not seen anything wrong with public office holders using public aircraft. The prime minister of the UK uses British Airways. It is commercial. We should be thinking of how to resuscitate the Nigerian airway,” he said.

“British Airways is not a British Air Force; it is a British private company. If we have planes in the presidential fleet, they should be maintained, and the president and vice president can use them.

“If for any reason we have failed to maintain them, it is not for it to be discussed on the floor of the house.”

Sada Soli from Katsina countered Chinda, saying that the UK prime minister uses a special British Airways plane.

“Today is a very sad day for me to speak on this issue. The life and security of our president and vice president are very important,” Soli said.

“What is going on in the presidential air fleet?” You know how much money this House budgeted for the president’s fleet. What is going on?”

The motion was, however, stepped down.

The house said the security committee has the power to invite Nuru Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), to explain why the presidential air fleet is not functioning optimally.

Addressing journalists after plenary, Ahmed said the committee would summon Ribadu and the commandant of the presidential air fleet over the development.

“So, therefore, it is a shame. When Mr President wanted to leave on official duty from Riyadh to the UK, he used a chartered flight. In the 21st century? Come on. Not Nigeria. Let’s be serious, please,” he said.

• Says One Year Not Enough To Judge Tinubu’s Performance

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto diocese, Matthew Kukah, has told Nigeria’s president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that Nigerians are experiencing pain and hardship due to certain government policies.

Kukah made this known in Abuja on Wednesday after a visit to Tinubu at the State House.

The clergyman stated that while one year may not be enough to make a judgment about the administration of Tinubu, he noted that it is evident that Nigerians are facing a difficult situation.

He noted that some government policies may need to be amended to ease the burden on citizens.

Kukah emphasised that the essence of government is to guarantee the welfare of the people, noting that the current situation in the country is a time for renewal.

“So many people will tell you that one year is not enough to make a judgment. However, from where we all stand, we know that we are all in a very difficult situation,” Kukah said.

“Nigerians are in various levels of pain—pain that is unintended. There are also certain policy decisions that, hopefully, can be amended in order to serve the welfare of ordinary people.

“I believe that the essence of government is to guarantee the welfare of ordinary citizens. I believe that the times that we are in now are difficult times, and nobody should be under any illusion.

“But this is also time for renewal; we just need to commit ourselves to using a good society.

“It takes a lot of time and cannot be done in one lifetime. For me, the most important thing is to continue on the building blocks of things that are being done well.

“My argument has always been that the government needs to, very quickly, improve the quality of communication so that Nigerians can get a sense of how long it will take before food is ready.”