President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Abuja on Monday evening for Paris, the capital of France, flying in the new Airbus A330, purchased by the federal government.
In a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the new Airbus A330 replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to Onanuga, the new aircraft was purchased far below its market price and would be saving Nigeria huge maintenance and fuelling costs.
The statement also explained that the decision to purchase the aircraft was arrived at after an investigative hearing by the National Assembly that questioned the Boeing B737-700’s (BBJ) safety record and cost efficiency.
Earlier on Monday, sources with knowledge of the President’s trip confirmed that the aircraft landed in Abuja at 08:30 pm on Sunday after a nearly five-hour flight from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg in France.
The Presidency had on Sunday evening announced President Tinubu’s plan to visit France for a brief work stay in France.
It is Tinubu’s 23rd foreign trip since assuming office about 15 months ago.
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