Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, addressed concerns over the N5 billion presidential yacht during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning show.
Ndume clarified the issue, stating that the presidential yacht had been signed and delivered but not paid for before public outcry.
He explained the Senate’s actions in response to the controversy surrounding the supplementary budget.
Ndume highlighted that the yacht’s budget was signed based on a dollar rate, and the subsequent increase in the rate led to the budget exceeding the initial estimate of about N435 million to over N800 million.
Ndume stressed that the Navy clarified it was not a new budget, and the House of Representatives later moved the budget to the student loan category.
He emphasized that the deal for the yacht had been agreed upon, signed, and delivered but not yet paid for.
Switching focus to the allocation of N160 million for Land Cruiser SUVs for each lawmaker in the National Assembly, Ndume defended the decision.
He explained that it’s common for government workers to purchase vehicles for official duties, and the price increase is influenced by the fluctuating naira to dollar rate.
Ndume expressed a preference for Nigerian-made products but noted that Nigerian car companies primarily assemble vehicles rather than manufacturing them entirely.
He justified the choice of SUVs, citing the challenging condition of most Nigerian roads, stating that these vehicles are necessary for lawmakers to carry out their oversight functions.
The controversy surrounding the 2023 supplementary budget arose when Nigerians criticized the proposed expenditures, including the N5.095 billion allocation for a presidential yacht.
The Presidency clarified that the naval boat is designated for high-level security purposes, refuting claims of it being for President Bola Tinubu’s personal use.
