Tinubu Travels to France in  New Presidential Aircraft

President Tinubu departed from Abuja on Monday for Paris, travelling on the new Airbus A330. This aircraft has replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) that was acquired during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced this in a statement on Monday.

The purchase of a new plane by the Tinubu administration has sparked heated debates, with numerous individuals raising concerns about its justification amidst the current state of the country’s economy.

The Senate has been criticised for allegedly ignoring the challenges faced by the Nigerian people by giving the green light to the acquisition of a new presidential aircraft during a critical time.

However, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, denied receiving any such request from the Presidency at the time, but mentioned that the lawmakers would be open to considering it if it were to be presented.

Onanuga’s statement confirmed the acquisition of the new aircraft, which has been the subject of speculation in the media.

As per his statement, the new plane was purchased at a significantly lower price than the market value, resulting in substantial savings for Nigeria in terms of maintenance and fuel expenses, amounting to millions of dollars annually.

The decision to replace the B737-700 (BBJ) came after a thorough investigation by Nigeria’s parliament, which raised concerns about the plane’s safety record and cost efficiency. These concerns were further highlighted when the plane experienced a malfunction during a trip to Saudi Arabia.

“The Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee has suggested the replacement of the older aircraft in the presidential fleet in order to minimise downtime and operational costs,” he stated.

The Presidency announced that Tinubu is expected to return to the country following his visit to the European nation.