Nigerian Navy Provides Key Update on Controversial Presidential Yacht
- Nigerians had criticised a N5 billion presidential yacht deal as a waste of money on luxuries during an economic crisis
- Federal lawmakers instead moved the allocation to the student loan budget, doubling its allocation
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office in May with a promise to cut waste and ease people's financial hardship
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9-year-experience covering current affairs in Nigeria
FCT, Abuja - The Nigerian Navy (NN) on Saturday, November 4, confirmed the delivery of the controversial presidential yacht.
Recall that Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, revealed on Friday, November 3, that the deal of the presidential yacht included in the supplementary budget has already been signed and delivered.
Source: Getty Images
N5bn yacht: Navy confirms delivery
Speaking with The Cable, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the spokesman of the Nigerian Navy, said the previous Muhammadu Buhari administration ordered it.
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Ayo-Vaughan added that the yacht has been delivered to Nigeria since June 2023.
He said:
"That is correct; it (the yacht) is in Nigeria."
When asked what would happen to the yacht considering the lower chamber of the country's parliament rejected the government's plan to buy a presidential yacht for N5 billion, the Navy spokesperson replied:
"Those are beyond us. The crux of the matter is that it was ordered under the previous administration and it was delivered. It was approved, but there was no cash backing.
"Decisions must be taken at all levels; we are just awaiting instructions."
Why yacht was included in budget - Ndume
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate revealed that the deal of the presidential yacht included in the supplementary budget has already been signed and delivered.
According to the federal lawmaker, the procurement of the deal by the APC administration is what necessitated its addition to the supplementary budget.
Reps throw out Tinubu's N5bn presidential yacht
Legit.ng also reported that President Tinubu's N5 billion presidential yacht included in the supplementary budget was converted to a student loan by the House of Representatives.
Abubakar Bichi, the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, disclosed this on Thursday, November 2, after lawmakers passed the N2.17 trillion supplementary budget.
Tinubu didn’t ask for presidential yacht - Ajayi
In another related news, Legit.ng reported that Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Tinubu, said the Nigerian leader did not ask for a presidential yacht.
Ajayi said the request for a yacht in the 2023 supplementary budget is from the Nigerian Navy "and they must have operational reasons for why it is required".
Source: Legit.ng
