The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has addressed the contentious matter concerning the controversial presidential yacht, estimated to be valued at around N5 billion.
Ndume provided this clarification during his appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show today, where he discussed the supplementary budget review.
He confirmed that the presidential yacht had been procured and delivered, but the payment had not been completed when it sparked public outcry.
He further explained that the Senate had subsequently included the necessary payment allocation within the student loan budget.
Ndume said, “We queried the amount budgeted for the yacht, but it was signed for a dollar rate, and the new rate isn’t favorable. The budget was predicated for about N435, and now it is over N800.
“The Navy also clarified that it is not a new budget. And even the House of Representatives moved the budget to the Student loan. The deal for the yacht has been agreed, signed, and delivered, but not paid for.”
Speaking on the allocation of N160 million for Land Cruiser SUVs for every legislator in the National Assembly, the Chief Whip emphasized that procuring vehicles for official purposes is a customary practice among government employees.
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He asserted that the cost of these vehicles was influenced by the fluctuating exchange rate between the naira and the dollar, highlighting the essential necessity of these vehicles for legislators.
He argued that the justification for the prevalence of SUVs in Nigeria is primarily due to the poor condition of most Nigerian roads. He emphasized that these vehicles are indispensable for conducting essential oversight duties.
It’s worth recalling that The PUNCH previously highlighted public criticism of certain allocations in the 2023 supplementary budget submitted by the President to the National Assembly. This criticism included objections to the proposed expenditure of N5.095 billion on a presidential yacht.
In response to these concerns, the Presidency clarified that the item labeled ‘Presidential Yacht’ in the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill is not intended for President Bola Tinubu’s personal use. Rather, it is classified as a naval boat due to its high-level security features.
“What was named as a 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,” Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained in a statement on Thursday evening.