The Federal Government, last year was faced significant criticism for planning to purchase a presidential yacht. In the 2023 supplementary budget of ₦2.17 trillion, President Tinubu proposed ₦5 billion for the yacht’s procurement.
Following public outcry, the National Assembly refused to approve the yacht’s funding, reallocating the ₦5 billion to student loans with questions remaining on how the government will finance the yacht.
Amid widespread criticisms over the procurement of a luxury boat for the President in the midst of worsening hardship across the country, the Nigerian Navy affirmed that it ordered the yacht during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, in an interview with PUNCH, stated that the yacht had been in the country since June 2023.
The navy noted that the procurement of the yacht was long overdue, stressing that the yacht was for training and not for the pleasure of the President as widely believed.
The administration has also been criticized for reportedly spending ₦21 billion to complete the official residence of Vice President Kashim Shettima. Despite other urgent infrastructure projects, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike prioritized this residential project, drawing public ire.
Nonetheless, the minister completed and commissioned the project, ignoring the criticism.
President Tinubu stressed that the completion of the VP’s residence project, which commenced in 2010, was in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda, which favours the completion of uncompleted projects for the benefit of all Nigerians.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and some other Nigerians expressed anger over the expenditure of ₦21 billion to build the official residence for Vice-President Kashim Shettima, at a time of economic hardship in the country.
According to SERAP: “The reported expenditure of 21 billion Naira on the residence of the Vice President, Mr. Kashim Shettima, is wasteful and a clear instance of misplaced priorities by the Tinubu Administration.”
₦1.5 Billion Cars for the Office of the First Lady
The Office of the First Lady has often been criticized for the influence wielded by its occupants, despite being an unelected position. The cost of running this largely ceremonial office is also a point of contention.
Tinubu decided to spend ₦1.5 billion on vehicles for the Office of the First Lady, an office that is not recognised by the country’s constitution.
In the 2023 supplementary budget, the government proposed ₦1.5 billion for purchasing vehicles for the Office of the First Lady.
₦160 Million Cars for National Assembly Members
In the midst of the current economic crisis, members of the National Assembly received luxurious Sport Utility Vehicles, each costing an estimated ₦160 million. It is unclear what vehicles were provided to the Senate, but they are expected to receive more.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, Sunday Karimi, explained that the leadership of the National Assembly made this choice for lawmakers based on considerations of durability and maintenance over a four-year period.
Karimi also criticized the noise surrounding the purchase of the SUVs, saying that ministers who ride about four official vehicles were not criticized.
₦90 Billion Hajj Subsidy
The government also spent ₦90 billion on the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Due to the naira’s devaluation, the cost of the Hajj increased significantly, forcing the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to revise the fee multiple times.
The government’s ₦90 billion subsidy is now under investigation by various anti-corruption agencies. The Chairman of NAHCON, Jalal Arabi, and several management staff were arrested by the EFCC for alleged mismanagement of the funds.
The anti-graft agency revealed that a sum of SR314,098 was recovered from Arabi and other high-ranking officials of NAHCON.
The EFCC’s investigation found that funds from the ₦90 billion Hajj subsidy were fraudulently misappropriated, with Arabi allegedly overpaying himself and others for operational costs.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu, along with some of his aides and other government officials, have repeatedly urged Nigerians to remain patient, assuring them that the current hardships citizens are facing will be temporary.
