The Nigerian Presidency has been dragged into a yacht scandal over a luxury vessel spotted flaunting the Nigerian flag in St. Tropez, France. The sight of this opulent boat has been making waves on social media, leading to alot of speculation and online chatter.
The yacht, a sleek 42-meter Benetti, became the center of controversy after a viral video showcased it cruising with the Nigerian flag proudly displayed. Naturally, the rumor mill went into overdrive, suggesting that this could be a government-owned vessel. However, the Presidency was quick to set the record straight.
Otega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital and New Media, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to dismiss these claims.
According to Ogra, the yacht in question is the private property of an individual, not a symbol of Nigerian governmental or military prestige.
Ogra clarified that the official Nigerian flag is simply Green-White-Green, devoid of any additional symbols or a coat of arms. He pointed out that any flags featuring additional designs or coats of arms do not represent official government or military vessels. “The yacht has been privately owned for approximately five years and has no ties to the Nigerian government or its military,” he stated.
Ogra’s statement aims to debunk the unfounded claims circulating online. He highlighted that it’s not unusual for private yachts to display their owner’s national flag alongside the flag of the country where the vessel is registered.
“The 42-metre Benetti yacht currently being circulated 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, President, or 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.
So, despite the social media panic and wild theories, it appears the only thing connecting this luxury yacht to Nigeria is the flag, an emblem that doesn’t necessarily denote government ownership.
