Senator Ali Ndume, Chief of Staff of the Senate, has revealed that the contract for the presidential yacht included in the supplementary budget has already been signed and delivered.
The House of Representatives rejected the federal government’s plan to purchase the presidential yacht (NOK 5 billion), which was included in the supplementary budget.
President Tinubu had submitted the supplementary budget to the National Assembly for approval, in which the yacht purchase plan was listed under the Nigerian Navy’s proposed capital expenditure of $53 million
The presidential yacht purchase bill has drawn public ire, with Nigerians criticizing it as a waste of luxury goods given the country’s economic situation.
‘The contract has been signed and delivered, but no payment has been made. That is why this amount ($5 billion) was included in the supplementary budget,” President Ndume told Arise Television in an interview on Friday, November 3.
Meanwhile, the President’s Office insists that the item “presidential yacht” in the proposed 2023 supplemental budget is not for Tinubu’s personal use.
The presidential office said the naval vessel is classified as such because of its “advanced security features.”
What is named in the budget as a presidential yacht is an operational naval boat with special security equipment suitable for high-profile operational visits and not for presidential use.”
The presidential statement, titled “Facts on Naval Boats in the 2023 Supplemental Budget,” said, “The naval boats were ordered by the Navy under the previous administration.
President Tinubu has consistently stated that the government is a continuum, inheriting both the assets and liabilities of previous administrations.”
This is part of the commitment obligations submitted by the Chief of Naval Staff to the Ministry of Defense,” the Office of the President noted, adding that “the total amount of requests submitted exceeded N200 billion, of which N62 billion was approved by the President.” Special Adviser to the President on Intelligence and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Thursday.