On Monday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu departed for Paris on an official visit, as announced by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, via X.
Tinubu traveled aboard the newly acquired Airbus A330, valued at N150 billion.
The jet arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 8:29 pm on Sunday after landing from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg earlier in the day.
The new Airbus A330 replaces the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ) that was purchased during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
The updated aircraft was acquired at a significantly reduced price, offering substantial savings in maintenance and fuel costs.
The decision to replace the older plane followed a parliamentary investigation into its safety and cost-effectiveness, especially after a malfunction during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
The Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended the change to minimize downtime and operational costs.
The new plane features advanced avionics, a customized interior, and state-of-the-art communications systems.
