Following the widely criticized style of distribution of palliatives to cushion the COVID-19 lockdown effect, the Federal Government announced new criteria to be examined before cash would be transferred to Nigerians.

On Tuesday, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar, announced that the Buhari administration considered Nigerians who buy N100 call credit as poor and would ensure they get money.

She disclosed that urban poor dwellers with an account balance of N5,000 or less will be among the beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme.

Farouq explained that aside from the National Social Register, Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), record of purchase of airtime by mobile phone owners was part of the yardsticks.

“We are also using the mobile network, people that top up their phones with maybe N100, N200. These are the people we consider to be poor and vulnerable,’’ the minister added.

Interestingly, it was the first time the government was mentioning BVNs in nearly one month since the lockdown went into effect in several sectors of the economy.

The government, at different press briefings and statements, focused on distribution of physical cash and food items, ignoring the easier and safer route of direct payments.

This led to condemnations by Nigerians and groups who said the CCT policy was enmeshed in fraud and demanding the list of beneficiaries.

On Wednesday, Bola Tinubu, national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, added his voice to the BVN option.

“Payments can be made quickly by using the BVNs of prospective recipients to make direct deposits into individual bank accounts. This will encourage those without bank accounts to establish such accounts.

“This process will bring millions of people into formal banking. It will also be safer and not lead to the types of violence and crime that might follow physical cash transfers,” Tinubu noted.

Farouq’s comments triggered heavy backlash as Nigerians are wondering the basis for the criteria.

DAILY POST reports that the guidelines generated hundreds of comments; more than 95 percent of the respondents declared their opposition to the conditions.

Some reactions below:

Alumuku Terfa: This billions of naira donations you are receiving from all nooks and crannies…If one may ask, what is the exact population of Nigeria that if a fraction of the amount is to be shared, a minimum range of #200,000 that won’t accommodate? You only consider yourselves and your generations yet unborn on issues of looting.

Edwin Oloche Stephen: Nobody should complain ooo. Were you people not the ones shouting sai BABA and NEXT LEVEL recently, continue ......................https://janefblog.com/13225-2cash-relief-nigerians-react-to-100-airtime-5000-account-balance-criteria/

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that is very commendable from FG.

Please brothers, friends and well wishers. The times are hard and even harder for those with paused source of income. I just withdrew the last 1k in my account now to buy Garri. Please help a brother with whatever little amount you can spare. May God bless your generosity. God bless. 3126046770 firstbank

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