President Bola Tinubu has left Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, for Paris, France. This trip marks the first international journey using Nigeria’s newly acquired Airbus A330, which has recently replaced the older Boeing B737-700 BBJ that was in service for 19 years.
The new aircraft, an Airbus A330, was introduced after concerns were raised about the safety and cost efficiency of the old Boeing model. The former plane, bought during ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, faced criticism due to maintenance issues and high operational costs.
The Nigerian Senate’s Security and Intelligence Committee had recommended the replacement of the B737-700 following a malfunction during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, shared the details of the President’s trip on his X handle.
He highlighted that the new Airbus A330 was purchased at a price significantly lower than the market rate, potentially saving the country millions of dollars in maintenance and fuel expenses annually.
Despite these updates, the specific purpose of President Tinubu’s visit to France remains undisclosed. A brief statement from Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, mentioned that the President will return to Nigeria after a short working stay in France.
According to the statement: “President Bola Tinubu will embark on a trip to France on Monday, August 19, departing from Abuja, the nation’s capital.
“The President will return to the country after his brief work stay in France.”
