By; Sunday Ode, Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Bauchi scheduled to take place December 29 has been postponed owing to inclement weather condition in the country.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement said the bad weather condition which has led to multiple flight delays cancellations by airlines operators prevented the take-off of the President’s plane for the trip to Bauchi this morning.
“Technical information received from the weather station showed that visibility as at this morning was 600 meters, 200 metres short of the 800 metres minimally required for a safe aircraft take-off.
“According to the information available, the visibility was expected to drop to 300 metres before improving to permissible limit later in the day,” Shehu said in the statement.
“The commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Air Commodore Hassan Abubakar said that the Presidential Aircraft was in perfect condition, the weather in Bauchi was alright, but that the problem was in Abuja.
“In cancelling the visit to the state, President Buhari expressed regret over the disruption caused by the bad weather. In a recorded audio and video message, he said he looked forward to the visit in the course of which he was to commission an Air Force medical facility and a number of other projects by the state government. He said he also intended to thank the people for their relentless support in all his political undertakings.”
The statement also quoted President Buhari as saying :”We make our plans, God makes His own plans,”
President Buhari thanked the Government and people of Bauchi State and the Nigerian Air Force for the studious and elaborate preparations made to receive him, and assured that he is going to visit the state at a more auspicious time, according to the statement.
