Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu has defended the inclusion of a controversial “Presidential Yacht” in the 2023 supplementary budget which had set lawmakers on a war path.
The issue of the yacht has also provoked debates among Nigerians who believe that at a time the ordinary masses are going through severe hardship due to the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu, it is insensitive of the President to aqcuire such unnecessary luxury.
But while reacting to the raging controversy, Bagudu said the inclusion of the yacht in the budget was not intended for President Tinubu’s personal use and comfort.
Bagudu, while speaking to State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday, said it was “ridiculous for anyone to suggest that the yacht was smuggled into the supplementary budget for Tinubu’s personal use.”
“President Tinubu has always told us, his team, that he is happy with all he has achieved in life, personal comfort does not matter to him. So to suggest that something was put in the budget for his comfort is ridiculous,” the minister said.
“Before he was elected President, he stayed in a three bedroom apartment in Abuja. He lives a modest, humble life.
“Therefore, the mischaracterisation or controversy that followed from the way the Nigerian Navy described the ship has unfortunately generated controversy.
“In my comment during a panel discussion, I said three things; first President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the campaigns, repeatedly emphasised the urgency to tackle security. And it is not surprising that 30% of the supplementary budget is for the defense sector.
“If you have a budget of N2.2 trillion and 95 percent of it is okay, I think President Tinubu should be given credit for it.
“Equally, he has spoken about the need to support vulnerable populace and equally 30 percent of the supplementary budget is also on the palliatives. N400 billion cash transfers and N200 billion cash awards.
“Equally infrastructure, about 25% of the supplementary budget is for infrastructure. So there you have it, about 85% is in these three areas,” the minister added.