Chinese Firm Leaks President Tinubu’s Trip To France

Days after the Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, leaked President Bola Tinubu’s trip to France, the Presidency has now made the announcement official.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, who disclosed this on Sunday, said President will on Monday travel to France for a “brief work stay”.

In a statement made available to the media, Ngelale said President Tinubu will be returning to the country after his brief stay in the European nation.

The terse statement read; “President Bola Tinubu will embark on a trip to France on Monday, August 19, departing from Abuja, the nation’s capital.

“The President will return to the country after his brief work stay in France”.

Though the presidential Spokesman failed to state the reason for the visit, insiders, who are conversant with the development, hinted that it might not be unconnected with arrangements for Mr President to undergo another round of his routine medical check.

Ngelale’s announcement came after Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, which dragged Nigeria to international courts over alleged breach of agreement, said one of the three Presidential jets seized based on a French court order has been released to the Nigerian authorities.

On Friday, the Chinese outfit’s spokesperson had disclosed that one of the jets was released after being made aware that President Tinubu has a scheduled meeting with President Emmanuel Macron of France

The company’s statement said; “Zhongshan has consistently sought to act reasonably and fairly in the course of a legal dispute with Nigeria which was not of its making.

“It has now been made aware that an Airbus A330, currently detained in France as a result of a French court order obtained by Zhongshan, is needed for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to travel to a scheduled meeting with President Macron of France early next week.

“As a gesture of goodwill, Zhongshan has lifted the seizure of that aircraft immediately. This will allow it to be used for the President’s trip.”

Forefront News notes that this is the President’s second overseas trip in just one week. He only returned to the country about two days ago after a three-day official visit to Equatorial Guinea.