₦25,000 Conditional Cash Transfer Viral Claim is Misleading! 

By Afeez Rabiu

Claim:

Recently, a seemingly untrue claim has swept through various social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp groups that the Federal Government (FG) has allegedly disbursed ₦25,000 each to 3.5 million Nigerians.

The message provides a link, urging recipients to check if they are among the chosen beneficiaries and subsequently withdraw the promised cash.

Factcheck Africa embarked on a meticulous fact-check of this claim after it was shared by concerned netizens, dissecting the claim and scrutinizing the evidence to establish the veracity of the viral message.

Investigation:

Official Government Channels:

As of the time of gathering this report, there has been no official announcement or press release from the Nigerian government regarding a ₦25,000 conditional cash transfer to 3.5 million citizens.

A search of official government websites, including the Ministry of Finance and the Social Intervention Program (SIP), yielded no results supporting the claim.

Verification of the Website:

The link provided in the message directs users to a website with the URL “https://get-offre.org/fgcash.html.” To ascertain the legitimacy of this platform, an in-depth analysis was conducted.

Firstly, the absence of an official government domain, such as .gov.ng, raises suspicions about the credibility of the website.

Furthermore, the lack of standard security protocols, including HTTPS, and the absence of recognizable government insignia contribute to the skepticism surrounding the provided link.

Previous Similar Scams:

Past scams in Nigeria have exhibited a tendency to exploit the aspirations of financial gain. By comparing the current claim with the characteristics of known scams, a consistent modus operandi becomes apparent, suggesting a recurring pattern in the deceptive messages circulating on social media.

Consulting Official Databases:

One of the hallmarks of transparency in government disbursements is the availability of official records accessible to the public. However, in the case of the alleged ₦25,000 conditional cash transfer, no official databases or public records were found to substantiate the claim.

Legitimate government cash transfer programs typically have clear records that can be verified through official channels.

Contacting Government Agencies:

Attempts were made to directly contact relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Finance and the Social Intervention Program.

As of the time of gathering this report, these efforts yielded no confirmation or acknowledgment of the alleged cash transfer. The absence of any official response from government bodies further diminishes the credibility of the circulating message.

Analysis of Message Language:

Government communications adhere to a certain standard of language and professionalism. An examination of the circulated message reveals certain grammatical errors and inconsistencies that are inconsistent with the expected linguistic standards of official government communications.

Verdict:

Based on this comprehensive analysis of the evidence at hand, the claim of a ₦25,000 conditional cash transfer by the Nigerian government is Misleading.

No official government sources have confirmed the alleged disbursement, and the provided link directs users to a website lacking the characteristics of an official government portal.

The absence of security features, the non-alignment of the domain with official government domains, historical patterns of similar scams, the lack of official records, and the failure to elicit responses from relevant government agencies collectively dismantle the credibility of the viral message.

Conclusion:

The spread of misinformation, especially in matters concerning personal and financial details, can have severe consequences. By debunking such claims and raising awareness about the importance of fact-checking, we contribute to fostering a more informed and resilient society.