Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has refuted President Bola Tinubu’s claim that the Federal Government disbursed ₦570 billion to all 36 states as a form of hardship relief.
Gov. Makinde made this clarification during a broadcast to Nigerians amid the #EndBadGovernance protests against hunger and economic hardship.
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In a newsletter shared on his X handle on Thursday, Makinde addressed a query from an Oyo State resident about the supposed grant from the Federal Government. He stated, “Let me state categorically that this is yet another case of misrepresentation of facts. The said funds were part of the World Bank-assisted NG-CARES project—a Programme for Results intervention.”
Gov. Makinde explained that the NG-CARES program, designed to aid states in COVID-19 recovery, was not a direct grant from the Federal Government. “The World Bank facilitated an intervention to help States in Nigeria with COVID-19 Recovery. CARES means COVID-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus. It was called the Programme for Results because States had to use their money in advance to implement the programme.”
He further clarified that after the World Bank verified the expenses incurred by states, it reimbursed them through a federal platform, but the Federal Government itself did not provide any money. “It is important to note that the World Bank fund is a loan to States, not a grant. So, States will need to repay this loan. Note also that NG-CARES, which we christened Oyo-CARES in our State, predates the present federal administration,” Makinde added.
Gov. Makinde detailed that Oyo State received ₦5.98 billion in the first tranche and ₦822 million in the second tranche as reimbursements under the program. He highlighted that these funds were invested in key areas, including inputs distribution to small holder farmers, a model that was later adopted by the World Bank as part of the NG-CARES program.
“So, in direct response to the message, the Federal Government did not give Oyo State any money. We were reimbursed funds (₦5.98 billion in the first instance and ₦822 million in the second instance),” Makinde reiterated.
