The Presidency has debunked a claim that the federal government had plans to pay N30,000 to each Nigerian with a Bank Verification Number (BVN).
There have been online reports to the effect, attributing it to a purported news release by Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
The said online reports had said the federal government had set billions of naira aside to be distributed to about 40 million Nigerians at N30,000 per person, claiming further that the modus would be to reach everyone through his BVN.
The said ‘bonanza’, which its author said was an initiative to help less-privileged citizens of face the harshness of the impact of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.
However, in a tweet on his Tweeter handle @FemAdesina, the Presidential spokesman dissociated himself and the administration from the said claim, describing it as fake news.
“Fake news peddlers have concocted a statement, purportedly issued by me, saying FG will pay N30,000 to each Nigerian with BVN, to help them stock up before an impending national lockdown. Not me. The so-called statement is hereby disclaimed,” Adesina said.
The federal government, just many state governments, has advised social distancing as a way of beating COVID-19.
As a result of the advised measure, which many states had formalised by ordering shut down of social and economic activities, many believed it would force hardship, especially hunger, on many families as most people were believed not to have prepared enough for the lockdown.

By Bolaji Ogundele