Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has revealed that the deal for the presidential yacht, which is included in the 2023 Supplementary budget just approved by the Senate, has been both signed and delivered.
However, the payment for the yacht has not yet been processed, and this is the reason behind the inclusion of the N5 billion amount in the supplementary budget, he stated in an interview during a television programme yesterday.
According to hin, “The deal has been signed and delivered, but not paid; and that’s what brought the inclusion of the amount (N5 billion) in the supplementary budget”.
Recall that the House of Representatives had previously rejected the federal government’s proposal to purchase a presidential yacht, which is budgeted to cost N5 billion as part of the supplementary budget.
The presidential yacht has faced public backlash, with many Nigerians criticizing the expenditure on such luxuries, given the country’s economic situation.
President Tinubu had presented a supplementary budget to the Senate for approval, including the planned purchase of the yacht under the Nigerian Navy’s proposed capital expenditure of $53 million.
The Presidency, however, clarified that the item referred to as the ‘Presidential Yacht’ in the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill is not intended for President Tinubu’s personal use.
According to the presidency, the naval boat is categorized as such due to its high-level security features and is intended for high-profile operational inspections. The statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasised that the naval boat was ordered by the Navy during the previous administration.
