- The House of Representatives had re-allocated the N5 billion earmarked for the presidential yacht to student loan in the supplementary budget.
- Onanuga said “What was named as 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 presidency has stated that the yacht listed in the Nigerian Navy’s additional budget is not for President Bola Tinubu.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on media and strategy, said in a statement on Thursday that the yacht is a “Operational Naval boat with specialised security gadgets suitable for high profile operational inspection and not for the use of the President.”
According to Onanuga, the navy ordered the yacht during the previous administration, and President Tinubu inherited the obligation to pay for it. The yacht, he added, is part of the government’s investment in securing the country’s territorial seas and increasing economic output from the oil and gas, marine and blue economy sectors.
“President Tinubu is focused on securing our country and territorial waters,” Onanuga said. “The Federal Government under his leadership is investing more resources to enhance greater economic output from our oil and gas, marine and blue economy.”
Onanuga also said that President Tinubu understands the economic challenges being faced by the masses and that his administration is working hard to confront and surmount those challenges.
“Nigerians will soon get the benefits of the ongoing reforms that will certainly lead to a buoyant and improved quality of life for all citizens,” he said