The Federal Government’s claim that ₦330 billion has been disbursed to vulnerable Nigerians has sparked outrage, with citizens branding the announcement fraudulent, exaggerated, and completely lacking in transparency.
Recall that the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun told newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday that the Government had paid 8.5 million households at least ₦25,000 each under a World Bank–backed cash transfer programme. According to him, the payments were made through the National Social Safety-net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), funded by an $800 million facility, with beneficiaries identified through their National Identification Numbers (NIN) and credited directly via bank accounts, or mobile wallets.
Edun further claimed that the initiative is designed to support 15 million households out of roughly 20 million on the National Social Register, representing an estimated 75 million Nigerians. He assured that the balance would be covered by the end of 2025.
However, across social media, Nigerians are openly dismissing the government’s claims. Many argue that with 8.5 million households supposedly reached, covering nearly 34 million people, it would be impossible not to know at least one verified beneficiary. “Which households? Show us the videos of those who received it and their happy faces,” one user demanded. Others questioned the arithmetic, pointing out that one in six Nigerians should have benefitted if the figures were genuine.
The backlash reflects growing anger at a government perceived as out of touch with the daily struggles of ordinary citizens. Comments ranged from disbelief to outright accusations of corruption. “How was this achieved? Who benefited from this? What is going on?” asked one citizen. Another declared: “No one can prove this money reached real people. It’s just another scheme to siphon public funds”.
For many, the announcement is a painful reminder of past controversies. Similar cash transfer programmes under former ministers Sadiyya Farouk and Betta Edu were also tainted by allegations of fraud and lack of accountability. With inflation rising, unemployment worsening, and poverty deepening, citizens say the government’s numbers do not match reality.
“Never trust these people. This is a corrupt scheme”, wrote one furious commenter. Another dismissed the entire programme as “a typical APC lie in a struggling country”.
As frustration grows, the Finance Ministry has yet to provide concrete evidence of the supposed beneficiaries. For millions of Nigerians battling hunger and unemployment, the claim of a ₦330 billion lifeline remains an announcement without proof, another statistic in a country where trust in government has long been eroded.
The controversy is not new. Similar cash transfer initiatives under former ministers of humanitarian affairs, Sadiya Farouk and Betta Edu, were repeatedly dogged by allegations of fraud and questions about credibility.
NASSCO’s National Coordinator, Funmi Olotu, however, defended the scheme, insisting that the staggered payments were designed to ensure that only those with verified NIN-linked accounts benefited. “Mr. President said no more traditional mode of payment of cash to people. He said we must pay directly to their bank accounts”, she explained.
