President Bola Tinubu on Monday departed the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja for Paris, capital of France, using the new Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) acquired during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The spokesman of the President, Chief Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, noted that the new plane, bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars annually.
Meanwhile, this is coming after a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co Limited, which seized three of Nigeria’s aircraft in Paris on Friday last week, released Airbus A380 so as to enable President Bola Tinubu to embark on his Paris trip.
Though, the Chinese firm still held on to two of the country’s aircraft.
Newsband reported that a French court in a controversial judgement on March 7 and August 12, 2024, authorized the seizure of the three presidential jets due to the ongoing dispute between Zhongshan and the Ogun State Government.
The seized aircraft include a Dassault Falcon 7X at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus 330 at Basel-Mulhouse Airport in Switzerland.
The legal face-off stems from a 2016 decision by the Ogun State Government to revoke Zhongshan’s export processing zone management contract, which resulted to a long legal battle that has now spilled over into international courts.
A spokesman of the Chinese firm stated that Airbus A330, was released to accommodate President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The image maker further explained that Zhongshan’s decision to lift the seizure was a gesture of goodwill to support the President’s travel plans.
The company however, said it remains open to negotiating with the Nigerian authorities to achieve a fair resolution.
However, President Tinubu who departed Nigeria on Monday, was accompanied to the airport by some of his aides and cabinet members.
His media aide, Ajuri Ngelale said on Sunday, August 18, that the President would return to Nigeria after his brief work stay in France.
