Presidency explains why presidential jet remains with Buhari in London

The Presidency on Thursday said the retention of the Presidential Aircraft, NAF 001, in London where President Muhammadu Buhari is currently receiving medical attention was borne out protocol, national security, diplomacy and prestige.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.

According to Punch, Shehu was reacting to recent reports especially on the social media over an outrageous fee allegedly being paid for parking the aircraft in London since May 10 when Buhari embarked on his second medical vacation for the year.

He said there is no world leader who travels abroad and is left without plans for immediate return or possible evacuation.

Shehu 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.