Just IN : Tinubu jets out to France with new presidential aircraft for a brief work stay, Says Onanuga

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Abuja on Monday evening for Paris, the capital of France, flying in the new Airbus A330, purchased by the federal government.

The Presidency had on Sunday evening announced President Tinubu’s plan to visit France for a brief work stay in France.

Meanwhile, a statement issued on Monday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the new Airbus A330 replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought under the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to Onanuga, the new aircraft, which purchase had been a subject of for some online news outlets in recent times, was purchased far below its market price and would be saving Nigeria in huge maintenance and fuelling costs.

The statement also explained that the decision to purchase the aircraft was arrived at after an investigative hearing by the National Assembly that questioned the Boeing B737-700’s (BBJ) safety record and cost efficiency.

“President Tinubu departed Abuja Monday for Paris, using the new Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought under the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“The new plane, bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.

“The recommendation to replace the B737-700(BBJ) followed an investigative hearing by Nigeria’s parliament that questioned the plane’s safety record and cost efficiency, especially after it malfunctioned during a trip to Saudi Arabia.

“The Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended replacing the ageing aircraft in the presidential fleet to reduce downtime and operational expenses”, the statement said.

The modified jet is one of the three presidential aircraft recently seized by a French court in favour of a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, over a dispute with the Ogun State Government.

However, on Friday, August 16, Zhongshan announced that it has decided to release one of the three presidential aircraft belonging to the Nigerian government, which had been clipped down in France.

The Chinese firm said it did so as a gesture of goodwill, referencing a scheduled meeting between President Tinubu and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.

Zhongshan said it realises the importance of the aircraft for this diplomatic engagement and, therefore, availed the equipment for use.

The dispute came just weeks before President Tinubu’s scheduled participation at the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation holding in Beijing, China, from September 3 – 8, 2024.

In July, the new aircraft was reportedly spotted in Germany with its tail livery featuring the seal of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Valued at $100m (N150bn), it contains a bedroom, an office space and a conference and dining room and will make its maiden trip with the President aboard on Monday.