Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Presidency has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu has requested a Presidential yacht, emphasizing that such a request has not been made and is unnecessary for the President to carry out his duties effectively.
In a statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, it was clarified that the proposed allocation of N5.095 billion for the purchase of a Presidential yacht originated from the Nigerian Navy, which must have specific operational justifications for its inclusion in the budget.
“The trending issues on social media since yesterday are two items in the 2023 supplementary budget. One is the provision for a presidential yacht in the supplementary budget by the Navy and the other is over N6 billion for vehicles to the State House,” Ajayi said. “It is important to state clearly that President Bola Tinubu didn’t ask for a presidential yacht and I doubt he needs one to perform the functions of his office. From what I know, the request for a yacht, however it is named or couched in the budget, is from the Navy and they must have operational reasons for why it is required.”
Concerns have been raised about the inclusion of such spending in the budget, particularly given the country’s current economic circumstances. Ajayi urged the Budget Office to provide a public explanation for the inclusion of the expenditure at this time.
“The budget office should be in a position to also explain to the public why such expenditure should be accommodated now, considering the economic situation of the country,” he stated.
Ajayi also highlighted the need for accurate reporting, calling out inadequate journalism that consistently reduces the State House budget allocations to the President and Vice President’s offices.
“It is poor reporting to always reduce State House budgetary provisions to the President and Vice President’s offices,” Ajayi lamented. “When the State House makes provision for vehicles, it is reported as if it is the President that will use all the vehicles or eat all the food. A President and Vice President cannot, for any reason, spend N20 million Naira to eat in a year if it is about the food they will eat as first and second families.”
He further emphasized that budgetary provisions for food and catering services at the State House are meant to accommodate various state events, meetings, and visits by foreign dignitaries, as well as hosting VIPs and other Heads of States.
Recalling recent examples of such events, Ajayi pointed out that President Tinubu, as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Governments of ECOWAS, hosted two special summits in August to address the political turmoil in Niger Republic. Additionally, the President recently hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and a delegation of top business men and women from Germany, necessitating catering services funded by the State House budget.
In conclusion, Ajayi urged the media to provide accurate and comprehensive reporting, ensuring a fair representation of the State House budget allocations and their intended purposes.
With this clarification from the Presidency, it is expected that the public will have a better understanding of the budgetary provisions and their significance in effectively executing the functions of the President and Vice President.
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