Presidency Denies Ownership of Yacht in France with Nigerian Flag, Clarifies Speculations

Presidency Denies Ownership of Yacht in France Bearing Nigerian Flag, Clarifies False Reports

The Nigerian presidency has officially refuted claims circulating on social media that a yacht in France with Nigerian flag belongs to President Bola Tinubu. Reports surfaced alleging that a yacht spotted in the luxurious coastal town of St. Tropez, France, was a “presidential yacht” owned by the Nigerian government and used by President Tinubu for vacation purposes. These claims, however, have been firmly denied by the presidency.

Otega Ogra, one of President Tinubu’s media aides, took to his verified social media account to address the situation. He explained that the yacht in France with Nigerian flag is privately owned and not associated with the president or the Nigerian Navy. According to Ogra, it is not unusual for luxury yachts to display the flag of the owner’s nationality alongside the flag of the country where the yacht is registered, further dispelling any government involvement.

The media aide clarified that the yacht in France with Nigerian flag differs from official Nigerian flags used by the president or armed forces. “The official Nigerian flag is Green-White-Green without a coat of arms in the middle. Placing anything in the centre of the flag is a clear deviation,” Ogra stated. He emphasized that the presence of the coat of arms on the flag seen on the yacht proves it does not belong to any official Nigerian entity.

The presidency’s swift response aimed to quell the rumors before they gained further traction, reassuring Nigerians that President Tinubu had no connection to the yacht in question. Ogra also pointed out the tendency for private yacht owners to display their national flags when sailing internationally, adding that such occurrences are common in exclusive destinations like St. Tropez.

As the speculations about the yacht in France with Nigerian flag continue to circulate, the presidency’s denial underscores its commitment to transparency in addressing public concerns. For now, the clarification has put to rest the false claims surrounding President Tinubu’s alleged use of a private yacht during his time in France.