The Federal Government has announced that it is actively working to resolve the dispute over the impounded Nigerian aircraft, attributing the issue to the mishandling of international matters by sub-national entities.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, made this known during a press briefing in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on Friday.
He confirmed that the federal government is already addressing the situation.
The dispute centres around Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese firm, which secured a court order in Paris to confiscate Nigeria’s presidential aircraft that was undergoing maintenance in France.
This company aims to seize Nigerian assets in eight countries, including the UK and the USA, following a failed agreement with the Ogun State Government.
Tuggar stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is collaborating with the Attorney-General to address the issue through both diplomatic and legal channels.
He assured that negotiations are ongoing and that updates will be provided as necessary.
He also stressed the importance of involving the relevant federal authorities in international agreements to prevent such complications.
“The Attorney-General and I are working on this issue, both diplomatically and legally, to ensure it is resolved,” Tuggar said.
“This situation arose because sub-national entities like state governments entered into international agreements without consulting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the federal government. When these agreements go wrong, we are left to resolve the fallout.”
He stressed that international negotiations should be handled by those with the appropriate experience and training, cautioning against sub-national actors independently engaging in such matters.
“Such arrangements should always be registered with the relevant federal bodies to avoid future issues,” he added.
“This particular agreement was made by a previous administration in Ogun State, without our knowledge, and now we are facing the consequences. However, the resolution process is ongoing, and we will provide updates as the situation progresses.”
