Atiku Questions Tinubu Over Cash Transfer Discrepancies

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu's administration regarding discrepancies in the government's cash transfer program. In a statement released by Phrank Shaibu, Atiku's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, he pointed out that the number of households recorded as beneficiaries dropped from 15 million in July 2026 to slightly over 10 million by August.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs had announced on August 26 that only slightly over 10 million households were covered. Atiku's camp also questioned the financial logic behind the claim that over ₦600 billion had been disbursed, arguing that full payments to 10 million households would require about ₦750 billion, and for 15 million, it would exceed ₦1.1 trillion.

The statement criticized the government's approach to poverty alleviation and called for the publication of a full payment trail, including verified household data and an independent audit.