The Senator representing Taraba South in the National Assembly, David Jimkuta, has denied recent media reports attributing to him a claim that the aircraft carrying 18 Senators, including Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, was denied landing at Kashimbilla Airport. The Senators were scheduled to attend the unveiling of Jimkuta’s empowerment programme in his senatorial district in Taraba State.
In a statement issued by Adi Useni on behalf of his media team, Senator Jimkuta described the media report as false and misleading.
He explained that the need to clarify the situation arose due to the misinterpretation of remarks he made during an interview with journalists at the monumental empowerment event in Wukari. According to the statement, Senator Jimkuta had commended the Honourable Minister of Aviation for his prompt action in securing the necessary landing approval.
Senator Jimkuta clarified that the delay was due to a requirement from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which mandates at least two weeks for safety testing of the control towers at Kashimbilla Airport. He emphasized that this was the reason why several of his colleagues were unable to attend the event.
The Senator’s spokesperson added that at no point did Senator Jimkuta accuse any individual or entity of intentionally denying access to the airport. “In fact, when asked whether he believed the situation was intentional, he clearly stated that it was a matter of safety, stressing that safety must always be a top priority in aviation operations,” the statement read.
Senator Jimkuta also urged media outlets to ensure accuracy and thoroughness in their reporting. He expressed concern that many media organizations had relied on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) without independent verification, despite multiple media representatives being present at the event.
The Senator reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and constructive engagement with all stakeholders in the pursuit of advancing the interests of Taraba State and Nigeria as a whole.
