Hundreds of Nigerians have testified to receiving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) COVID-19 intervention fund which was disbursed to different sectors of the economy to cushion the effects of coronavirus pandemic.
A breakdown of the funds disbursed to Nigerians show that Real Sector (N216.87 billion); COVID-19 Targeted Credit Facility (N73.69 billion); Agri-Business/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (N54.66 billion); Pharmaceutical and Health Care Support (N44.47 billion); and Creative Industry Financing (N2.93 billion).
In a report by Circle TV, an online television outfit, many Nigerians showed proof that they received the funds and many of them said they did not know anyone in government.
The testimonies began to flood in after Joe Abah, the country director of DAI, an international development company, asked how many Nigerians benefited from the COVID-19 intervention fund.
“It will be good if people that benefitted come out to say they did. They never do. Are they afraid of their neighbours or what? Dr Abah had written on his Twitter page.
Writing on Twitter, Bamiduro Laolu said, “Like play, like play, I did apply and benefited from the fund. And I have used it to help mother repackage her bean flour business.”
Yaddakson has a similar story. “I applied for CBN covid19 relief fund and I was credited without even going to the bank or contacting anyone.”
“I wonder how many people here even bothered to apply. I put aside cynicism and applied and it was the smoothest process ever. Thankfully our application got approved and we received our funds. We got about 20% of what we asked for,” Paddy Mmaduakonam Anigbo II said.
Oseni Olanrewaju did not benefit directly but he knows someone who did. “I can confirm Sir, That a colleague got N500,000 from the household intervention. He actually applied for N3m and interestingly, he is anti-Buhari. He supported Sowore in the 2019 election. I also know Of another person who told me N900,000 was approved for him. These people are verifiable,” he added.
Obinna Ezeifedi benefited and was impressed with the process. “I benefited, do you need me to show you the alert too? Mine happened a long time ago. I think I applied early and I actually forgot about it. In fact, I thought it was scam until they sent me a text message saying that my application was successful. In fact, until I received it, I thought it was the usual ‘Nigeria thing’. Between when they sent me the approval text message and receiving the fund was less than a week,” he said.
The full list of beneficiaries is available on the website of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NISRAL).
Proof pic.twitter.com/MCDRSq0FeF
— Mr Pee (@okoraforP) September 23, 2020
I think this should answer your question sir. @DrJoeAbah pic.twitter.com/hGtrCvxMrz
— Hon. Rotimi Ipadeola (@ROTIMIIPADEOLA) September 23, 2020
@DrJoeAbah I have been going through your tweets/RT on the NIRSAL Covid-19 loan.
There is a phrase I noticed that made me pleased, the phrase “Without any connection”.
Phrases like that give an average Nigerian 🇳🇬 hope for a better Nigeria.
God bless Nigeria.— Nicholas Bill (@Nickbill01) September 23, 2020
My wife’s business benefitted. She got a million naira & she plan to start repayment this month despite the 1yr moratorium
— Dr. Ben Gbenro (@bengbenro) September 23, 2020
My neighbor orange seller received N400k another N200k a friend received N1m
— Labelle (@sallyz80) September 23, 2020
