By Abiola Olawale
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Abuja for Paris, France, on Monday.
The President was seen off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, among other top government officials.
The special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale had announced that Tinubu is going to France for a ‘work visit.
The New Diplomat gathered that the President was airlifted in a new presidential jet, an Airbus A330.
The Federal Government had procured a new presidential jet despite public outcry.
The new Airbus A330 was procured as a replacement for the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought under the Presidency of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The decision to replace the B737-700(BBJ) aircraft came after an inquiry was raised in the National Assembly about the aircraft’s safety history and cost-effectiveness. These concerns were said to escalated following a malfunction that occurred during a Presidential flight to Saudi Arabia.
The National Assembly’s security and intelligence committee consequently recommended that the the ageing aircraft be replaced in the presidential fleet to reduce downtime and operational expenses.
