A Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company, has announced the release of one of the three Nigerian presidential jets that were seized by order of a French court. The announcement was made on Friday through a company spokesperson.
The aircraft, an Airbus A330, was among three jets seized by Zhongshan following a court order. The seizure was linked to a contract dispute with the Ogun State government dating back to 2016, which led to the firm securing a French court order for the detention of the Dassault Falcon 7X, Boeing 737-7N6/BBJ, and Airbus A330-243.
In a statement, Zhongshan explained that the release of the Airbus A330 was a gesture of goodwill, prompted by the need for the aircraft to facilitate a scheduled meeting between Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron. The firm’s decision to release the plane allows it to be used for the trip, which is expected to take place early next week.
The Nigerian government had previously announced that it was pursuing both legal and diplomatic measures to address the situation. The move by Zhongshan to release the Airbus A330 follows ongoing negotiations and efforts by the Nigerian government to resolve the issue surrounding the seizure of the aircraft.
This development marks a significant step in the ongoing arbitration efforts by foreign companies against Nigeria, as they claim the country has reneged on various agreements. The resolution of this specific case is seen as an important moment in addressing the broader challenges Nigeria faces with international arbitration.