Tinubu flies to France in new presidential plane

‪Abdullateef Fowewe‬

‪The presidency announced the replacement of the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) with the Airbus A330 which President Bola Tinubu used for his trip to France on Monday. ‬

‪A statement by Tinubu’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, on Sunday announced that the President will embark on his fourth trip to the European country on Monday, August 19, and he will be departing from Abuja.‬

‪The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga in a post on X (formally Twitter) on Monday evening explained that the new plane, bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.‬

‪He emphasised that the aircraft was acquired following safety concerns about the previously used 19-year-old Boeing 737-700, stating that the House of Representatives had recommended replacing ageing aircraft to enhance safety and operational efficiency, prompting the government to procure the new jet for presidential travel.‬

The post reads, “President Tinubu departed Abuja Monday for Paris, France using the new Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) was bought under the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo. The new plane bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.

“The recommendation to replace the B737-700(BBJ) followed an investigative hearing by Nigeria’s parliament that questioned the plane’s safety record and cost efficiency, especially after it malfunctioned during a trip to Saudi Arabia. The Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended replacing the ageing aircraft in the presidential fleet to reduce downtime and operational expenses.

“The new plane is spacious and is furnished with state-of-the-art avionics, a customized interior and a communications system.”