The Nigerian presidency has officially disowned a yacht seen flying the Nigerian flag in St-Tropez, a renowned coastal town in France. Social media had been abuzz with claims that the vessel was a "presidential yacht" used for vacations by Nigerian officials.
In response to these allegations, Otega Ogra, the senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on digital and new media, took to his X handle to set the record straight. He emphasized that the yacht in question is privately owned and has no ties to the Nigerian government or its president.
"There have been false claims circulating that a private individual’s yacht spotted in St. Tropez is a Nigerian government yacht," Ogra stated. "Here are some points to consider in order to discern the truth. The 42-meter Bennetti yacht currently being shared online has been privately owned for around five years since it was constructed."
Ogra further clarified the specifics of the Nigerian flag, noting that the official flag is Green-White-Green without a coat of arms in the center. "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," he added.
He also pointed out that 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. This practice might have contributed to the confusion.
"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 not true and inaccurate," Ogra concluded.
This clarification aims to dispel the misinformation circulating about the yacht's ownership and its alleged connection to Nigeria's leadership.
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