The minister, however, said that not all applicants will receive the grant.
The Nigerian Government on Thursday said almost 4 million Nigerians applied for the palliative grant of N50,000, but only 1 million beneficiaries were accommodated for palliative grant aimed to alleviate economic hardship worsened by recent challenges.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this on her X account, stating that 60 percent of the proposed one million beneficiaries of the Presidential Conditional Grant had received a financial grant of N50,000 without repayment obligations in the 774 local government areas of the country.
She said, “To all applicants of the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme who are yet to be paid, thank you for your continued patience. The disbursement process is still ongoing, and we have allocated about 60% of the 1 million grants.”
The minister, however, said that not all applicants will receive the grant.
“It’s important to note that almost 4 million Nigerians applied for the Palliative grant of 50k, but only 1 million beneficiaries can be accommodated,” she said.
“The selection is not based on who applied first; everyone has an equal chance but by random computer generated selection. While Mr. President may launch other social intervention programs in the future, there are no immediate plans at this time.
“The teams in my office and BOI have worked tirelessly to ensure this process is fair and accurate. Testimonial videos are already being shared, showcasing how the grant has positively impacted lives and we will share many more. We have prioritized accuracy over speed to ensure every Nigerian who applied has a fair shot.
“We had hoped to complete all 1 million disbursements by now but the process has been delayed due to incorrect or missing data, duplicate and spurious applications, which we have had to meticulously clean up to ensure eligibility and validation.
“We are also at the final stages of vetting for the MSME and Manufacturing loans. Applications remain open, and disbursement will begin by July ending.
“Finally, it is your right as citizens to criticise and hold the government accountable. However, we encourage constructive feedback without resorting to abuse or bigotry. Personal insults and hate speech are not likely to aid your applications and will not be tolerated. Together, we can build a more prosperous Nigeria,” she said.