The Presidency has said that the yacht listed in the 2023 supplementary budget is an Operational Naval Boat and not for President Bola Tinubu’s usage.

The listing of the yacht in the budget which was passed yesterday had elicited criticisms from Nigerians who faulted the government’s plan to purchase such for the President despite the country’s harsh economic situation.

But in a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said contrary to speculation, the yacht is a naval vessel.

According to him, it is called a presidential yacht by way of nomenclature because of the high-level security features, adding that the boat was ordered by the navy under the previous administration.

Also speaking on the issue, the Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi, said the House has dropped the yacht and re-allocated the money for Students’ Loan.