March 2001 Africa News Headlines

Monday, March 19, 2001 - Web posted at 5:44:11 AM GMT

Obasanjo submits 3rd request for new plane

LAGOS - Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has asked parliament for a third time to approve funds for a new plane, officials said last week.

In a special appropriations bill, read in the Senate, Obasanjo asked the upper house to approve 5,5 billion naira (around US$42 million) for the purchase of the plane to replace the aging and noisy presidential jet.

The president said the money would be used to purchase a "new presidential Gulf Stream V Aircraft from Gulf Stream Aerospace Corporation of the United States."

"Parliament refused a similar request last year, and the president renewed it in January after being stranded in Switzerland because of a technical fault.

The Senate refused the second request for US$19 million towards the purchase of a new plane, but asked the president to seek funds for planes not only for himself, but also for his deputy, the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the chief justice of Nigeria.

Obasanjo refused to request the funds.

- Nampa-Sapa-AF

•  Big Brother Africa 3: Who's your winner?
•  Big Brother Africa 3: Hazel's got Africa cooking!