President Bola Tinubu is set to leave Abuja on Monday for a brief working visit to France, according to a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson.
Ngelale said the president would return after his “brief work stay in France” but did not specify the exact date of his return.
This visit came in the wake of a Paris court ruling that ordered the seizure of three Nigerian government jets due to a legal dispute involving Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd, a Chinese firm.
The court decided that the Chinese company could use the jets, located at the Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse international airports, as security for its claim of €74,459,221.
The aircraft involved are a Dassault Falcon 7X (registration number 5N-FGU), a Boeing 737-7N6/BBJ (registration number 5N-FGT), and an Airbus A330-243 (registration number 5N-FGA). The dispute leading to the $70 million arbitration award against Nigeria began after the Ogun State government terminated Zhongshan’s contract to manage the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ).
On Friday, Zhongshan agreed to release one of the seized jets, the Airbus A330, to facilitate President Tinubu’s travel to France. The Chinese firm’s spokesperson stated they were informed of the president’s need for the aircraft to attend a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
“As a gesture of goodwill, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure of that aircraft immediately, allowing it to be used for the President’s trip,” the spokesperson said.
They also expressed the company’s commitment to engaging in meaningful discussions with the Nigerian government to reach a reasonable settlement swiftly.
According to reports, Tinubu will travel in the new presidential jet. Sources said the jet landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. The aircraft was received by officials of Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet, led by their commander, Olayinka Olusola, an air vice marshal.
This visit to France followed President Tinubu’s recent trip to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on August 14th, where he was on a three-day official visit at the invitation of President Teodoro Mbasogo.
Equatorial Guinean Prime Minister Manuela Roka Botey received Tinubu. During his stay, he met with President Mbasogo at the Presidential Villa.
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