Bored of traveling around the world since he assumed office in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has booked a sit as one the six passengers in the Virgin Galactic VSS Unity space flight set to lift in early November, a space travel agent revealed to YeyeNews.com.
A top presidential aide told YeyeNews.com reporter that the president will be traveling to outer space to experience the feeling of weightlessness and other reasons beneficial to the national interest. “President Buhari has always been fascinated by the concept of weightlessness since his youth. He also want to go out there to have a panoramic view of Nigeria. The view from above will help the president make necessary and informed decisions to resolve the various security challenges bedeviling the country”.
Asked about how the trip will be funded given dwindling resources, the aide said “the funding will come from his private pocket even though the country stands to benefit more.” He went on to say that Nigerians should be happy about this great news as “our president will be the first sitting or past head of government of any government in the world to go to space.”
According to Virgin Galactic, a ticket in the VSS Unity flight will cost at least $450,000. YeyeNews.com gathered that this flight will make the president the first black African to lift into earth’s orbit. “A great fit indeed”, the presidential aide enthused. “President Buhari is known for setting records. This will just be yet another”, he added delightedly.
It is not clear if the president has undergone any form of training in preparation for the flight. Yeyenews.com tried to get the reaction of the Presidency but no response as at press time: Ajuri Ngelale, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Public Affairs, did not return our calls; Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, did not respond to our text messages.
