Nigeria’s Presidential Jets: One Aircraft Released, Two Remain Seized
A French court’s order to seize three Nigerian presidential jets has taken a new turn, with Zhongshan, the Chinese firm behind the seizure, releasing one of the aircraft. The company has lifted the seizure of the Airbus A330, which was detained in France, allowing it to be used for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s upcoming trip to a scheduled meeting with President Macron of France.
According to Zhongshan, the decision to release the aircraft was made as a gesture of goodwill, as the company remains committed to talks with the Nigerian government to resolve the dispute. However, the company did not provide a timeline for the release of the two remaining aircraft, which are still detained.
The dispute between Zhongshan and the Nigerian government stems from a long-drawn battle over the management of an export processing zone in the South-west state. Zhongshan had launched an investment treaty arbitration against Nigeria, citing the bilateral investment treaty between the People’s Republic of China and Nigeria. An arbitral tribunal issued a final award of $55,675,000 in addition to an interest of $9.4 million and costs of £2,864,445 payable by Nigeria to Zhongshan.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly pleaded with the Ogun State Government to resolve the dispute amicably, but no settlement was reached. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the French court’s order as a result of the arm-twisting tactic by a Chinese company, which he claimed withheld vital information and misled the court.
The Nigerian government has maintained that the presidential jets are assets of a sovereign entity, protected by diplomatic immunity, and therefore cannot be seized by a foreign court. The jets were on routine maintenance in France when the court order was issued.
The release of one of the aircraft is seen as a positive development, but the fate of the two remaining jets remains uncertain. The situation highlights the complexities of international disputes and the need for diplomatic efforts to resolve them amicably.
