By Ken Afor
Sequel to the public outcry by Nigerians following discovery that the sum of N5 billion has been budgeted for the procurement of a presidential yacht which was delisted by the House of Representatives, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senate Ali Ndume, said the process for the delivery of the luxury yacht has already been concluded before it was publicly announced.
The NewDiplomat had on Thursday reported that the N5 billion inclusion of the yacht in the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill which amounted to N2.17 trillion was replaced with the student loan scheme.
Meanwhile, Senator Ndume representing Borno South revealed in an interview with Arise Television on Friday that the yacht delivery was already concluded but yet to be paid for.
He said, “The deal has been signed and delivered, but not paid for, and that’s what brought the inclusion of the amount (N5 billion) in the supplementary budget.”
While the outrage by Nigerians intensified, the presidency in its response to the controversy claimed the item named ‘Presidential Yacht’, as contained in the 2023 Appropriation Bill, is not for Tinubu’s personal use as perceived but a naval boat.
According to the presidency, the boat was named ‘Presidential Yacht’ “because of the high-level security features.”
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated this in a statement on Thursday.
His words: “What was named as a presidential yacht in the budget is an operational Naval boat with specialised security gadgets suitable for high-profile operational inspection and not for the use of the President.”
“The Naval boat was ordered by the Navy under the previous administration.
“President Tinubu has consistently said that the government is a continuum, as he inherited both the assets and liabilities of past administrations.
“The payment request for the boat was part of the committed obligation submitted by the office of the Chief of Naval Staff to the Ministry of Defense,” the Presidency noted, adding that “the total of the submitted requests was in excess of N200 billion, out of which N62 billion was approved by the President.”
