Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited has announced the release of one of the three presidential aircraft belonging to Nigeria, which had been detained in France.
The decision follows a court order issued by a judiciary court in Paris.
The company made the announcement on Friday in a statement obtained by Arise News, saying that the release of the aircraft is a gesture of goodwill.
It was made in light of President Bola Tinubu’s upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The spokesperson for Zhongshan Fucheng stated that the company is aware of the importance of the aircraft for this diplomatic engagement and has acted to facilitate the meeting.
The statement reads, “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.”
However, the Chinese company has said it is still open to discussions with the Nigerian government, seeking a swift and reasonable resolution.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, on Thursday, said the Federal Government had begun legal actions to contest the interim seizure of the three presidential aircraft in France.
The aircraft, which were undergoing routine maintenance, were temporarily seized following ex parte orders issued by the Paris Judicial Court on March 7 and August 12, 2024.
These orders were obtained by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese company seeking to enforce an arbitral award granted to it in 2021 against Ogun State, a sub-national entity in Nigeria.
