Navy Under Fire: House Of Reps Accuses Unauthorized Procurement Of Presidential Yacht

Earlier reports indicated that the Nigerian Navy had confirmed the delivery of the presidential yacht, stating that the sailing boat had been in the country since June 2023…CONTINUE READING

In an interview with The Punch on Friday, the Nigerian Navy’s spokesperson, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, explained that the procurement had taken place during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari as a replacement for the defunct presidential yacht, and it was intended for training purposes.

However, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, has denied any knowledge of budgetary allocation for the procurement of the presidential yacht.

Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune on Saturday, the Plateau lawmaker stated that the Committee would investigate the alleged irregularity by the Navy.

He pointed out that there were no provisions in the approved budgetary allocations for the Nigerian Navy over the past four years.

Gagdi emphasized that the procurement of the sailing boat was not in line with budgetary provisions and should be accounted for in the 2023 budget.

Gagdi expressed his concern about the fairness of the supplementary budget, particularly the allocation of funds among the various armed forces agencies, highlighting his belief that the Navy had been treated unfairly.

He also questioned the inclusion of the presidential yacht in the budget, raising issues regarding its logistics and payment. He emphasized that further investigation is required to understand the situation fully.