President Tinubu travelling to France in the new Presidential plane

President Tinubu departed Abuja Monday for Paris, using the new Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing  B737-700(BBJ) bought under the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The new plane, according to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy in a statement, 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.