Covid-19: Nigerian government stops cash transfer in 4 states amid Nigerians’ anger 

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has directed the immediate termination of the contract of two Payment Service Providers (PSPs).

They were sanctioned for failing to meet the contractual agreement to commence Conditional Cash Transfer to beneficiaries in four states of the federation assigned to the two PSPs.

The affected states are Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom in the South-South; Abia in the South East and Zamfara in the North West.

The termination followed a new procurement process launched using World Bank procurement guidelines to ensure that payments starts in the affected states on or before April 28, 2020.

The minister’s order was contained in a statement on Tuesday by her Special Adviser on Media, Salisu Na’inna Dambatta.

It noted that the Federal Government cannot accept delays in the current payment of N20,000 stipends to beneficiaries in poor and vulnerable households.

“The failure of any payment service providers to meet their contractual agreement is unacceptable.”

“The Federal Government through the Ministry cannot allow contractors to derail the immediate Conditional cash transfers to the poor and the vulnerable,” it added.

Farouq has been under fire over the method of disbursement.

Nigerians and groups have been calling on the government to release a detailed list of beneficiaries of the cash transfer.