According to the Presidency, the N5 billion Presidential yacht included in the 2023 supplementary budget is only a Naval operating boat with specialized operational capabilities, not a cruise ship.
This was revealed in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. The title “Presidential yacht” was intended to highlight the boat’s specific military qualities rather than its usage by the President, according to the statement.
“What was named the Presidential Yacht in the budget is an Operational Naval boat with specialized security gadgets suitable for high profile operational inspection and not for the use of the President,” the statement says. By convention, it is referred to as a presidential yacht.
The presidential yacht was approved by the previous administration
Furthermore, Mr. Onanuga explained that the “Presidential yacht” was approved by the previous administration of President Buhari and the current administration allowed it because the government is a continuum.
It also said that the payment for the “Presidential yacht” is part of a committed obligation by the Nigerian Navy to the Ministry of Defence and displays the President’s commitment to securing the country’s waterways.
The statement reads, “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 Defence. The total of the submitted requests was in excess of N200 billion out of which N62 billion was approved by the President. President Tinubu is focused on securing our country and territorial waters.”
proposal from the Nigerian Navy to purchase a Presidential yacht for N5 billion while budgeting N5.5 billion for the student loan program.
However, the House of Representatives during approval of the 2023 Supplementary budget removed the N5 billion appropriation for the Presidential yacht and added the proposed fund to the Student loan program.
