Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has firmly denied involvement in the alleged ₦570 billion hardship grant that the Federal Government claims to have disbursed to state governments.
In a nationwide broadcast during the #EndBadGovernance protests against rising hunger and hardship, President Bola Tinubu stated that ₦570 billion had been distributed to all 36 states. He also mentioned that Nigeria spends ₦2 trillion monthly on the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel).
Tinubu highlighted that the Federal Government had accumulated ₦9.1 trillion in total fiscal revenue during the first half of 2024, a significant increase from the previous administration. He claimed that the funds disbursed to states were intended to support livelihoods, with 600,000 nano-businesses already benefiting from nano-grants, and an additional 400,000 businesses expected to follow.
However, in his August 2024 newsletter, Governor Makinde, addressing the claims directly, refuted any knowledge of such a grant. He clarified that the funds in question were actually part of the World Bank-assisted NG-CARES project, designed as a COVID-19 recovery intervention, and not a grant from the Federal Government.
Makinde explained that the NG-CARES program required states to spend their own funds upfront, with the World Bank later reimbursing them after verifying the expenditures. He emphasized that the Federal Government merely facilitated the reimbursements and did not provide any direct funding to the states.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: FG Allocates ₦570bn in Grants to State Govts. to Address Hardship, Hunger
Additionally, he pointed out that these funds are loans that the states will eventually need to repay, stressing that the program predates the current administration.
Governor Makinde’s statement comes amid rising tensions and controversies following the nationwide protests, some of which turned violent, particularly in northern states.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has since arrested and is investigating sponsors of the violent protests, including seven Polish nationals. The DSS also promised to reveal the identities of those behind the unrest.
