The Presidency has disassociated itself from a yacht seen flying the Nigerian flag in St. Tropez, a coastal town in France.
PUNCH Online reported that a video of the yacht, which displayed the Nigerian flag during a vacation in the French town, went viral on social media, sparking reactions from netizens.
In response to the video, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital and New Media, Otega Ogra, clarified via his X (formerly Twitter) page on Saturday that the yacht in question belongs to a private individual.
Ogra explained that flags used by the President or the Armed Forces do not feature a coat of arms, stressing that the official Nigerian flag is Green-White-Green without any additional symbols.
He wrote, “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 in order to discern the truth.
“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.
“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 centre. Placing anything in the centre of the flag is a clear deviation.”
