Presidential Yacht Delivery Confirmed By Navy, Payment In Jeopardy Amid National Assembly Opposition

While many Nigerians had hoped that the procurement of a presidential yacht would be halted due to widespread criticism, a recent revelation that the yacht had been delivered to the country added a new twist to the situation…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In an interview with PUNCH on Friday, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the Director of Information for the Nigerian Navy, disclosed that the yacht had been in the country since June 2023.

Ayo-Vaughan explained that the request for the replacement of the defunct presidential yacht had been made during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and emphasized that it was intended for training purposes.

He stated, “It was delivered in June 2023. We have not used it yet.” Ayo-Vaughan also cited the delay in using the yacht, attributing it to the inability to make the payment, saying, “Correct. It’s tied to the non-payment.”

However, there are indications that the payment for the yacht may face delays, as it faces opposition from the National Assembly, which has refused to approve its payment.

Meanwhile, Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, revealed that the deal for the presidential yacht included in the supplementary budget has already been signed and delivered.

This comes after the House of Representatives rejected the federal government’s plan to purchase the presidential yacht, which is expected to cost N5 billion in the supplementary budget.

The budget for the presidential yacht sparked public outrage among Nigerians, who criticized the government for spending on such a luxury item, given the economic situation in the country.