Amidst the extension of the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun states as well as Abuja, Nigerians are calling on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to assist them with palliative using the Bank Verification Number (BVN).
Before now, the Federal Government has been sharing funds to poor Nigerians through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme but critics are demanding that the funds be disbursed using the BVN for accountability purposes.
The minister of Humanitarian affairs, Sadiya Farouq oversees the affairs of the initiative.
During his national broadcast on Monday, Mr Buhari said the initiative will continue and ordered the addition of 1millon households to the social register which currently has 2.6million households.
But some Nigerians on Twitter reacted to the proclamation, asking that they be paid using the BVN. As at Monday evening, the #PayUsViaBVN began to gain momentum.
Some are complaining that residents of states where the lockdown are imposed are not been given palliatives while some states in the North that are not on lockdown are mostly beneficiaries of the scheme.
Below are few reactions captured by this reporter.
But for real if NCDC can send messages to everyone, govt should be able to pay everyone too via BVN. #payusviaBVN https://t.co/s4FLjApYye
— Ijeoma Elendu (@elendu_ijeoma) April 14, 2020
Seconded. I may not need d peanut, u may not need it but u&i have someone who needs it #payusviaBVN
— lets discuss this (@tunique05) April 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/artsbody1/status/1249930880942059520?s=19
There’s no way in a family that none of them wouldn’t have BVN. This is your best option to help the masses in this pandemic period @BashirAhmaad @NGRPresident @segalink @MBuhari #payusviaBVN #payusviaBVN
— kaylead_wears (@kaylead10) April 14, 2020
A businessman residing in Lagos, Ogun or Abuja who has not done business for up to 3 weeks deserves financial support. Stop the politics, it is not only the poor people in the north that deserve financial support #payusviaBVN @channelstv @BBCDanahar @BBCBreaking
— Fortune (@Fortune17964098) April 14, 2020
I see some people tweeting against this movement and I can't say anything less than I'm disappointed. Because we might not be heard doesn't mean we should keep quiet. At least it would be in history that our govt neglected us in a global crisis. #payusviaBVN
— INFAMOUS (@infamous_ama) April 14, 2020
There’s gonna be increase in criminality activities all over the country if the federal government doesn’t do the needful. People are hungry… #payusviaBVN
— MR. NICE GUY (@BenjaminAmosHQ) April 14, 2020
The safest and the most accountable and accessible means of reaching out to everyone by this govt is to credit every bank account with its bvn no so that general public can comfortably stay at home with something to fall back on……..other countries are doing it. #payusviaBVN
— Foresight (@foresight_ltd) April 14, 2020
Wenever FG @NGRPresident wants to implement any tax,,electricity,VAT increases they normal starts from southern states, lagos,Anambra,Rivers but watever ave to do with sharing money, political/military Appointments,it all about north.Biko is Nigeria truly a country? #payusviaBVN
— Mazi obi (@maziobi01) April 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/Don_kingdimeji/status/1249926550658703360?s=19
Get get a true picture of things as regards cash palliative from the federal government .. It will not give a 100% result.. But it'll provide for more accountability as those who benefit can be accounted for #payusviaBVN
— Ayoo_deji (@freshayoo) April 14, 2020
For those without BVN, FG can use the services of Jehovah Witness to reach every household, trust me, they have more accurate data than whatever Social Investment Program data they have concocted. #payusviaBVN https://t.co/wrNWMtmOFB
— Dr Emmy (@emmydmekus) April 14, 2020
You think Buhari's government does not know that paying via bvn is the easiest and most transparent way they can pay us? They know. Their only problem is that with this method, adequate accounts can be kept about their expenses and they won't be able to steal much. #payusviaBVN
— Dr Penking™???????????????? (@drpenking) April 14, 2020
Who floated #payusviaBVN
trend?
How do you want the Govt to disburse funds using BVNDon't you know the funds will be traceable and easily audited
How will they be able to steal huge amount of the funds?
How will they be able 2 give to only their people
Please stop this trend pic.twitter.com/W9x8C1C7dp
— Comradeˢᵀ – #HardTruth (@iAGB4REAL) April 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/Fredalla1/status/1249932169088245761?s=19
Tell them to pay us through our BVN. We can only fight covid-19 when people have something to hold on to. Nigerians are hungry!#payusviaBVN #payusviaBVN#payusviaBVN
— NEAT Architects (@NeatArchitects_) April 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/OtunbaG1/status/1249838596758155267?s=19
Payment via BVN to Nigerians is a very good idea!
But with corruptions, how can this be implemented???
What are we going to say about some rural areas that have not seen bank before??
What about the non affected states?
Nigeria is big, with different states!????
#payusviaBVN— Spice Of Lagos (@Dotun_spice) April 13, 2020
Billions donated yet the people are left to starve for another 14 days with no hope yet we have a medium for easy distribution of funds!! #payusviaBVN #payusviaBVN #payusviaBVN #payusviaBVN #payusviaBVN
— YH (@Yemihazan) April 13, 2020