A French court has seized three Nigerian presidential jets over an unresolved business dispute between Ogun State and a Chinese firm, Zhongshan . The the seized jets are:
Dassault Falcon 7X: Located at Le Bourget Airport in Paris .
Boeing 737: Stationed at Basel-Mulhouse Airport in Switzerland .
Airbus 330: Also stationed at Basel-Mulhouse Airport in Switzerland .
These jets are part of the Nigerian presidential air fleet and have been ordered grounded by the court until Zhongshan receives $74.5 million in compensation .
The French court seized the three Nigerian presidential jets as part of a dispute over a contract between Ogun State in Nigeria and the Chinese firm, Zhongshan. The contract was for the construction of a light rail project in Ogun State.
Zhongshan claims that Ogun State failed to meet its financial obligations under the contract, leading to a debt of $74.5 million. The Chinese firm sought legal action, resulting in the French court's decision to seize the Nigerian presidential jets as collateral until the debt is paid.
Zhongshan is a Chinese construction and engineering company that specializes in various sectors, including:
1. Infrastructure development: roads, bridges, airports, and railways
2. Building construction: residential, commercial, and industrial projects
3. Water resources: dams, water supply systems, and irrigation projects
4. Power and energy: transmission lines, substations, and renewable energy projects
Zhongshan has operations in several countries, including Nigeria, where they have been involved in various projects, including the Ogun State light rail project that led to the dispute and seizure of the Nigerian presidential jets.
Zhongshan is likely a subsidiary or affiliate of a larger Chinese state-owned enterprise.
The dispute between Ogun state government and Zhogshan revolves around:
- Unpaid contract fees
- Breach of contract terms
- Failure to meet financial obligations
The seizure of the jets is a measure to ensure that Zhongshan receives the compensation it claims is owed to them.
The dispute leading to the seizure of the Nigerian presidential jets is between Ogun State Government and Zhongshan (a Chinese firm) Not with the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Federal Government is not directly involved in this dispute, but the seized jets belong to the Nigerian Presidential Air Fleet which currently comprises six jets and four helicopters, but the Tinubu Administration plans to downsize it to seven aircraft and which is managed by the Federal Government.
The Ogun State Government's contractual obligations and debt to Zhongshan have led to the seizure of the jets, creating an embarrassing situation for the Nigerian government. The Federal Government is likely to get involved to resolve the issue and retrieve the seized jets.