The Chief Whip of the Senate, has disclosed that the presidential yacht deal, which was included in the supplementary budget, has already been signed and executed. Senator Ndume made this revelation during an interview with Arise Television on Friday.
He stated, “The deal has been concluded and the yacht has been delivered, although payment is pending. This is the reason for its inclusion in the supplementary budget, with an allocated amount of N5 billion.”
It is worth noting that the House of Representatives previously rejected the federal government’s proposal to purchase a presidential yacht, which was expected to cost N5 billion as part of the supplementary budget. This contentious initiative has been met with public criticism, with many Nigerians expressing concerns about allocating funds for luxury items, especially given the country’s current economic situation.
President Tinubu had presented a supplementary budget to the National Assembly for approval, with the planned acquisition of the yacht listed under the Nigerian Navy’s proposed capital expenditure of $53 million.
However, the presidency clarified that the item labeled ‘Presidential Yacht’ in the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill was not intended for President Tinubu’s personal use. The presidency explained that the naval boat was classified as such due to its specialized security features and its suitability for high-profile operational inspections.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, stated, “What was designated as a presidential yacht in the budget is an operational naval boat equipped with specialized security technology, intended for high-profile operational inspections and not for the President’s personal use.”
The presidency further noted that the naval boat had been ordered by the Navy during a previous administration, emphasizing that government responsibilities and obligations continue from one administration to the next. The payment request for the boat was part of the obligations submitted by the office of the Chief of Naval Staff to the Ministry of Defense, and the President approved N62 billion out of a total request exceeding N200 billion.