President Bola Tinubu, Monday 19 August 2024 departed Abuja for France.
NewsSpecng gathered that the Airbus A330 business jet conveying the President and some of his key aides, departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, few minutes after 4.0pm.
It is Tinubu’s 23rd foreign trip since assuming office 29 May 2023.
The presidency had on Sunday announced that the President will embark on a trip to France.
The media aide to the president, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, however did not give much details about the President’s trip.
“The President will return to the country after his brief work stay in France,” he stated.
The modified jet is one of the three presidential aircraft recently seized by a French court in favour of a Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, over a dispute with the Ogun State Government.
However, on Friday, August 16, Zhongshan announced that it had decided to release one of the three presidential aircraft belonging to the Nigerian government, which had been clipped down in France.
The Chinese firm said it did so as a gesture of goodwill, referencing a scheduled meeting between President Tinubu and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.
Zhongshan said it realised the importance of the aircraft for this diplomatic engagement and, therefore, availed the equipment for use.