Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, has disclosed that the deal for the presidential yacht, which was included in the supplementary budget, has been signed and delivered, though payment has not yet been made. This revelation was made during an interview with Arise Television on Friday.
It’s worth noting that the House of Representatives rejected the federal government’s plan to purchase the presidential yacht, which is estimated to cost N5 billion in the supplementary budget. This decision has been met with public criticism, as many Nigerians view it as an extravagant expense given the current economic situation in the country.
President Tinubu submitted a supplementary budget to the National Assembly for approval, with the proposed purchase of the yacht listed under the Nigerian Navy’s projected capital expenditure of $53 million.
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However, the presidency has clarified that the item labeled ‘Presidential Yacht’ in the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill is not intended for Tinubu’s personal use. The presidential office states that the naval boat is classified as such due to its advanced security features and is meant for high-profile operational inspections, not for the President’s personal use.
The statement from the Presidency, titled “The facts on the Naval boat in the 2023 supplementary budget,” further explains that the Naval boat was ordered by the Navy during the previous administration.
President Tinubu has consistently emphasized that government is a continuous process, and as such, he has inherited both the assets and liabilities of previous administrations.
The payment request for the boat was categorized as a committed obligation and was submitted by the office of the Chief of Naval Staff to the Ministry of Defense. The Presidency has clarified that the total of all submitted requests exceeded N200 billion, with the President approving N62 billion out of this sum.