…Faces Payment Issue Over NASS Rejection As Netizens’ Objection Continue
After confirming the delivery of the controversial Presidential yacht, as captured in the 2023 supplementary budget submitted to the National Assembly, the Nigerian Navy has explained that the vessel is meant for training and operational activities.
The Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan confirmed the delivery of the N5bn yacht on Friday amid ongoing debate about the ‘economic importance’ of the vessel and Nigerians’ fierce rejection.
Ayo-Vaughan made it known that the yacht had been in the country since June 2023. He explained that the service made a “long overdue request” for the replacement of the defunct presidential yacht during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He stressed that the yacht was for training.
Meanwhile, indications have emerged that the payment for the yacht may suffer delay, given the opposition by the two chambers of the National Assembly, in which case the federal lawmakers refused to approve the payment for the yacht. Thus, while the yacht has been delivered to the country, how the government would raise money for it remains to be seen in the coming days and months.
Recall that Theliberationnews reported that, the Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, on Friday, revealed during an interview on Arise TV that the presidential yacht had been signed and delivered before the public outcry, even though it had not been paid for.
His words: “The deal for the yacht has been agreed, signed, and delivered but not paid for.”
Ndume noted that the Senate questioned the amount budgeted for the yacht, but that it was signed for a dollar rate, and that the new rate was no longer favourable. He pointed out that the budget was predicated on N435, but that the rate was now over N800/dollar.
He said the Navy also clarified that it was not a new budget and that even the House of Representatives moved the budgeted sum to the Student Loan.
Ndume explained that the N5bn earmarked for the yacht was included in the supplementary budget because it had yet to be paid for. “When we saw that amount, we queried it. When we asked those questions, the Navy explained that this was not a new item. I know the President is not a luxurious person, he won’t go for that.”
Recall that since the budgetary allocation caught the public’s attention, it has been attracting condemnation and knocks to the government.
About N5bn was allocated to the yacht in the N2.1trn supplementary budget transmitted by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday.
But speaking on the issue in the interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, the naval spokesperson said, “It was delivered in June 2023. We have not used it yet.”
When asked if the inability to pay for the yacht was responsible for the delay in using it, he stated, “Correct. It’s tied to the non-payment.”
This implies that until the payment is made, the Navy may not be able to use it for its operational activities.
Meanwhile, amid the raging criticisms, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had unequivocally explained that the yacht was not for Tinubu’s personal use.
He had stated, “What was named as 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.”
This was corroborated by another Naval officer during an earlier interview with Punch. He explained that the navy, and not Tinubu requested for the yacht.
He had said, “Under the immediate past administration, a long overdue request was made for a Presidential yacht to replace MV AMARIA, the defunct Presidential yacht. It was also to be used for the Presidential Fleet Review 2023 that was held in May this year.”
