Fake ₦75,000 COVID Grant Rumour Triggers Rush in Jigawa
Residents of Gumel Local Government Area in Jigawa State gathered in large numbers at the council secretariat on Tuesday after a viral message claimed that the government was paying a ₦75,000 grant to holders of COVID-19 vaccination cards.
The message, which spread widely on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, instructed residents to present their vaccination cards to claim the alleged payment, prompting many to abandon their daily activities and travel to the council office.
Some residents who arrived early were left disappointed after they were told there was no such programme or payment.
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Idris Sani, who travelled about 15 kilometres from a nearby village, said he acted on the information he saw online but found nothing on arrival.
Another resident, Maryamu Salisu, also expressed disappointment, saying she had believed the claim and brought her vaccination card, only to be informed that the message was false.
The Gumel Local Government Council dismissed the report, describing it as fake and urging residents to ignore it.
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Officials said no government agency had announced any ₦75,000 grant for COVID-19 vaccination card holders and warned against spreading unverified information.
The Jigawa State Ministry of Health also confirmed that there was no such disbursement, adding that residents should rely only on official channels for accurate information.
Authorities have since begun sensitising the public to avoid falling for similar misinformation and to verify claims before taking action.