10m Poor Nigerians on Cash Transfer Have No Phones, Social Media Access – Yilwatda

MAIDUGURI — More than 10 million Nigerians who benefited from the Federal Government’s N75,000 conditional cash transfer programme lack access to mobile phones and social media, according to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda.

Yilwatda disclosed this on Saturday after a three-day retreat of the APC National Executive Council in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The APC national chairman said the beneficiaries were among the country’s poor and vulnerable population and, because of limited access to communication and information platforms, could not easily participate in public debates over government policies.

“We have given 75,000 naira to over 10 million Nigerians across the country using the conditional cash transfer under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction,” Yilwatda said.

He added: “Mind you, these people who are poor and vulnerable don’t have telephones to make calls; they are not on social media. They don’t have a television. They cannot come and challenge and discuss as we are doing here, but they are out there.”

APC chairman defends subsidy removal

Yilwatda used the briefing to criticise Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, over his position on the fuel subsidy.

According to Yilwatda, the removal of the subsidy had helped states meet their salary and pension obligations while allowing the Federal Government to undertake infrastructure projects.

“We are constructing roads and paying people that are working on the road site, and construction is going across the country,” he said.

He claimed that more than 30 states previously struggled to pay salaries and pensions but had been able to meet the obligations following the subsidy removal.

“Over 30 states could not pay salaries and pensions. After we removed subsidies, all states can pay salaries and pensions, and no state is left behind,” he said.

Yilwatda further questioned the implications of reversing the policy.

“Today, if you return it, you are saying states shouldn’t pay salaries again. And what suffering are you bringing to Nigeria?”

He warned that a return to the subsidy regime could affect government programmes, including the student loan scheme and major infrastructure projects.

“The projects we’re doing across the country, like the coastal road and gas project to the north, which have passed Abuja, which are aimed at easing the suffering of Nigerians, will be suspended,” the APC chairman said.

Yilwatda also accused Atiku of attempting to reverse the Tinubu administration’s gains in pursuit of the presidency, insisting that the APC and Nigerians would reject such a move.

APC reviews preparations for 2027

Speaking on the outcome of the NEC retreat, Yilwatda said the party reviewed its activities at the national, state, local government, ward and polling-unit levels.

He said the party’s assessment showed that the APC remained strong and ready for the 2027 general elections.

Yilwatda further disclosed that the NEC passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other APC candidates who emerged from the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.

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