Seized jets: FG picks holes in Ogun agreement with Chinese firm

The Federal Government has blamed the government of Ogun State over the agreement with Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment, a Chinese firm. Daily Trust had reported how a French court ordered the seizure of three presidential jets belonging to Nigeria over a contract dispute between the firm and Ogun government. The court ruled that the firm […]

The Federal Government has blamed the government of Ogun State over the agreement with Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment, a Chinese firm.

Daily Trust had reported how a French court ordered the seizure of three presidential jets belonging to Nigeria over a contract dispute between the firm and Ogun government.

The court ruled that the firm should use Nigeria’s jets at the Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse international airports as “security for its claim of EUR 74,459,221”.

A US appeal court also ruled that Nigeria’s claim to sovereign immunity cannot stand in a commercial venture.

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Speaking with reporters at Malabo International Airport, Equitorial Guinea, Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said the federal government is taking steps towards resolving the issue.

He said his ministry is working with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to address the issue diplomatically and legally.

“The Attorney-General and I are working on it, both diplomatically and then from the legal perspective as well, to ensure that this issue is resolved.

“But again, this is part of the problem when sub-national actors like state governments take it upon themselves to go into agreements, go into international arrangements, without recourse to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, without recourse to the federal government, and then when it goes awry, we are left with the problem to deal with.

“That is why it’s always important that such arrangements should be registered with the mission there, with the embassy, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with the federal government. This is something that Ogun state, under a different administration, not this governor, entered into that we’re not aware of. All we know is that they’re going after Nigerian assets.

“That’s why, really, foreign or international negotiations is not the purview of sub-national actors. You should always have those that are experienced in such an area that have the necessary skills and the necessary training to negotiate these sort of agreements.

“Well, it’s in progress, we will come back to you and give you an update as and when”.

Tuggar also described President Bola Tinubu’s three-day state visit to Equatorial Guinea as a resounding success, yielding significant agreements and strengthening regional cooperation.

Highlight of the visit was the signing of a gas treaty, where Nigeria will supply gas to Equatorial Guinea’s liquefied natural gas plant, utilizing Nigeria’s untapped gas resources off the coast of Calabar and Akwa Ibom.

A stretch of over 150-kilometer pipeline will be constructed to facilitate the gas transfer.