President Bola Tinubu is set to depart Abuja today, August 19, 2024, for a trip to Paris, France, marking his first official use of Nigeria’s newly acquired presidential jet. This was confirmed in a statement by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, on Sunday night.
While details of Tinubu’s engagements in France remain undisclosed, it was noted that the President would return to Nigeria after a brief working visit.
This trip follows the recent release of the Airbus A330, one of three presidential jets that had been detained in France due to a legal dispute. The Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Limited, which was involved in the dispute, released the jet as a goodwill gesture to facilitate President Tinubu’s visit to France.
The Airbus A330, now designated as Nigeria’s Airforce One with the registration number 5N-NGA, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday evening. The aircraft was received by the Presidential Air Fleet, led by Air Vice Marshal Olayinka Olusola.
Purchased for over $100 million, the Airbus A330 is a significant upgrade from the previously used 19-year-old B737-700 (BBJ), which had raised safety and cost concerns. The deal for the new jet was brokered by L & L International LLC, an aviation firm based in Miami, Florida, following recommendations from the House of Representatives’ National Security and Intelligence Committee.
