President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to depart Abuja today, August 19, for a brief work trip to France. His spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, confirmed that President Tinubu will return after completing his stay.

What makes this trip significant is the newly acquired presidential jet—a luxurious Airbus A330. The jet was released after a long-standing legal dispute between Nigeria and Chinese company Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Limited. The firm released the aircraft as a goodwill gesture, allowing the President to attend his scheduled meetings in France.

The Airbus A330 landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday evening at around 8:30 p.m. It was received by officials from Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet, led by Air Vice Marshal Olayinka Olusola.

This new aircraft, with registration number 5N-NGA, was purchased at a price of over $100 million. The market value of a jet of this class is estimated to be around $600 million, making the acquisition a strategic and cost-effective move for Nigeria.

The purchase followed concerns raised by the House of Representatives’ National Security and Intelligence Committee about the safety and efficiency of the older presidential aircraft, which had been in use for nearly 19 years. The committee recommended upgrading the fleet to reduce operational costs and ensure better reliability.

Now, the Airbus A330 will serve as Nigeria’s Airforce One, supporting the President’s travels both within and outside the country.