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Tinubu leaves for France aboard new presidential plane

Mr Onanuga also said the new plane was bought below the market price.

• August 19, 2024
TINUBU INSIDE PLANE
TINUBU INSIDE PLANE [Credit: Thecable.ng]

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

A statement by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the new plane would save Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars a year.

He also said the new plane was bought below the market price.

“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,” said Mr Onanuga.

(NAN)

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