According to Nentawe Yilwatda, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), over 10 million vulnerable Nigerians who received a conditional cash transfer of ₦75,000 from the Federal Government do not use social media because many of them lack phones and televisions.

Following a three-day retreat of the APC National Executive Council (NEC) in Maiduguri, Borno State, Yilwatda revealed the information to reporters on Saturday.

He claims that the majority of the recipients are vulnerable and impoverished Nigerians who lack access to technology and are thus unable to take part in public debates about governmental policies.

“We have given ₦75,000 to over 10 million Nigerians across the country using the conditional cash transfer under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

Mind you, these people who are poor and vulnerable don’t have telephones to make calls, they are not on social media. They don’t have a television. They cannot come and challenge and discuss as we are doing here, but they are out there,” he explained.

While criticizing former vise president and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for his stance on the policy, Yilwatda also supported the Tinubu administration’s decision to eliminate the gasoline subsidy.

He maintained that the elimination of subsidies had assisted states in funding government initiatives like roads and student loans as well as salaries and pensions.

“The projects we’re doing across the country, like the coastal road and gas project to the north, which have passed Abuja, which are aimed at easing the suffering of Nigerians, will be suspended,” he added.

Yilwatda’s comments coincide with political discussions about the effects of eliminating gasoline subsidies and plans to undo the policy.