On Monday, President Tinubu left Abuja for Paris aboard the new Airbus A330, which has replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 BBJ that was acquired during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the new aircraft is expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s maintenance and fuel costs, potentially saving millions of dollars annually.
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He also noted that the new plane was purchased at a price below the market value.
“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 Onanuga.
Why the cat before horse?