President Bola Tinubu has left Abuja for Paris, France, aboard a new Airbus A330, which replaces the older Boeing B737-700, acquired during ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, shared this update on his X account on Monday.
The new aircraft was reportedly purchased at a significantly lower price than the market value, which is expected to save the country substantial costs in maintenance and fuel, amounting to millions of dollars annually.
The decision to replace the B737-700 came after a parliamentary investigation raised concerns about the plane’s safety and cost-effectiveness, particularly after it malfunctioned on a trip to Saudi Arabia. The Nigerian Senate’s Security and Intelligence Committee recommended acquiring a new aircraft to minimize downtime and reduce operational costs.
On Sunday, the presidency announced that President Tinubu would be traveling to France on Monday. The brief statement from Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, did not elaborate on the purpose of the trip.
The statement read: “President Bola Tinubu will travel to France on Monday, August 19, departing from Abuja. He will return to Nigeria following his brief work visit to France.”
