Ogasabi and 9am News Nigeria reveal that the Presidency unveiled the new Presidential Jet Airbus A330 for President Bola Tinubu on Monday. The announcement and images of the new jet were shared by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Advisor for Information and Strategy, via his verified X profile.
Replacing the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 (BBJ), which was purchased during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, the new aircraft promises significant savings. Onanuga highlighted that Nigeria will save millions of dollars annually on fuel and maintenance with the new Presidential Jet. He emphasized that the new plane, bought at a price well below market value, will drastically reduce operational costs and maintenance expenses.
The decision to replace the aging B737-700 (BBJ) followed an investigative hearing by Nigeria’s parliament. Concerns about the plane’s safety record and cost efficiency, particularly after a malfunction during a trip to Saudi Arabia, led the Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee to recommend a new aircraft to minimize downtime and expenses.
Furthermore, The new Presidential Jet Airbus A330 boasts a spacious interior, state-of-the-art avionics, and a customized communications system. As reported by 9am News Nigeria, President Tinubu departed the Federal Capital Territory for France. At 4:08 p.m. on Monday, the President, accompanied by a few top advisers, boarded the new Airbus A330 from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu’s spokeswoman, confirmed that the President’s visit to France, his fourth, began on August 19.
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