France releases Nigerian aircraft for President Tinubu’s meeting with Macron

Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited has announced the release of one of three Nigerian aircraft, an Airbus A330, that had been detained in France following a court order.

The release comes ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

A spokesperson for the company stated on Friday that the decision to release the aircraft was a gesture of goodwill, as they had been informed that the plane was needed for President Tinubu’s official trip.

The spokesperson emphasized that Zhongshan seeks to act reasonably and fairly in its ongoing legal dispute with Nigeria.

“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.

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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,” the statement read.

The company also expressed its willingness to continue negotiations with the Nigerian government to reach a “reasonable compromise” in the dispute.

The Nigerian government had earlier initiated legal and diplomatic measures to secure the release of three presidential aircraft that were temporarily seized in France under court orders issued in March and August 2024.

These aircraft were detained while undergoing routine maintenance, following ex parte orders obtained by Zhongshan, which is seeking to enforce a $70 million arbitration award granted in its favor in 2021 against Ogun State, Nigeria.

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The legal dispute traces back to a 2010 agreement where Zhongshan, through its parent company Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Group Co. Ltd., acquired rights to develop a free trade zone in Ogun State.

The project faced complications in 2016 when the Ogun State government attempted to terminate Zhongshan’s involvement, leading the company to pursue arbitration under the China-Nigeria bilateral investment treaty.

Despite Nigeria’s appeals, courts in the UK and the US have ruled in favor of enforcing the arbitration award, rejecting Nigeria’s claim of sovereign immunity.