President Bola Tinubu Departs Abuja for Paris on New Presidential Jet

President Bola Tinubu has left Abuja, the nation's capital, for Paris, France. He traveled on the new Airbus A330, which has replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700, BBJ, originally acquired during former President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, shared the update on his X handle on Monday. The new aircraft is reported to have been purchased at a price significantly below the market rate, resulting in substantial savings on maintenance and fuel costs, potentially amounting to millions of dollars annually.

The decision to replace the B737-700 came after an investigative hearing by Nigeria's parliament, which raised concerns about the plane's safety record and cost efficiency. The aircraft had previously malfunctioned during a trip to Saudi Arabia, prompting further scrutiny. Following these findings, the Nigerian Senate's Security and Intelligence Committee recommended updating the presidential fleet to minimize downtime and reduce operational expenses.

On Sunday, the presidency announced that President Tinubu would be traveling to France, though the statement, attributed to Tinubu's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, did not specify the purpose of the trip. The brief announcement stated, "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."