The Nigerian Presidency officially introduced its new presidential aircraft, an Airbus A330, designated for President Bola Tinubu. The announcement came through Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who shared images of the new jet on his verified X account.
This modern Airbus A330 replaces the aging Boeing B737-700 (BBJ), which had been in service for 19 years. The Boeing was originally acquired during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. Onanuga did not disclose the cost of the new jet, but he highlighted its benefits in terms of cost savings.
According to Onanuga, the new aircraft is expected to save Nigeria significant amounts in maintenance and fuel costs, which were running into millions of dollars annually with the old plane.
“President Tinubu departed Abuja Monday for Paris, France, using the new Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought under the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo,” Onanuga wrote.
He further noted, “The new plane bought far below the market price saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.” The decision to acquire a new jet followed a parliamentary investigation into the safety and cost efficiency of the old aircraft. Concerns were raised after the Boeing experienced a malfunction during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
The Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee had recommended replacing the old jet to cut down on downtime and operational costs. The new Airbus A330 features advanced avionics, a custom-designed interior, and updated communications systems.
As part of the transition, President Tinubu took off from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 4:08 PM for Paris, marking his fourth visit to the European country. Tinubu’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, had announced this trip on Sunday, August 18.
