Adebayo Adenrele
The Presidency has debunked rumors circulating online that a private yacht spotted in St. Tropez, France, belongs to the Nigerian government.
According to a statement released by the Office of the Presidency, the 42-meter Benetti yacht has been privately owned for more than five years since its construction and has no connection or ownership ties to the Nigerian government, the president, or the armed forces.
The statement reads: “There have been false claims circulating that a private individual’s yacht spotted in St. Tropez is a Nigerian government yacht. Here are some points to consider to discern the truth.
“The 42-meter Benetti yacht currently being shared online has been privately owned for around five years since its construction. It is important to note that this specific yacht has no connection or ownership ties to the Nigerian government, the president, or the armed forces. Any claims or assertions suggesting otherwise are simply untrue and inaccurate.
“It is not uncommon for luxury yachts to fly the flag of the owner’s country as well as the flag of the country in which they are registered.
“The official Nigerian flag is Green-White-Green without a coat of arms in the middle. Flags representing the Nigerian President or the Armed Forces do not contain a coat of arms in the center. Placing anything in the center of the flag is a clear deviation.
“Regarding the naval observatory and training ship often referred to as the ‘presidential yacht,’ it was ordered and acquired by Nigeria during President M. Buhari’s tenure (2015-2023). It was delivered in June 2023 but was never paid for. This information has been officially confirmed by Naval authorities.
“Director of Naval Information, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, affirmed in a statement in November 2023 that the yacht was indeed ordered during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and was delivered to Nigeria well before it was included in the budget as an outstanding debt obligation. ‘That is correct, it is in Nigeria,’ he said.
“Finally, it is important to exercise caution and refrain from defaming or exposing private individuals and their legitimate businesses to ridicule based on false political associations with personal property.”