The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, says more than 10 million vulnerable Nigerians who received N75,000 through the Federal Government’s conditional cash transfer programme are not active on social media.
Yilwatda made the claim on Saturday while speaking with journalists after a three-day retreat of the APC National Executive Council in Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to the APC chairman, many beneficiaries lack access to mobile phones and television. He said their absence from online platforms means their experiences may not be reflected in public discussions about government programmes.
Yilwatda said the beneficiaries received the payments through the conditional cash transfer programme under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. His remarks come amid continuing public debate about the reach and implementation of the Federal Government’s social intervention programmes.
Torch TV News has also reported on other Federal Government programmes, including the launch of NNPC’s first smart self-service filling station in Abuja.
Yilwatda Says Beneficiaries Lack Phones
Yilwatda said many of the people targeted by the cash transfer programme live outside the digital spaces where government policies are frequently discussed.
He argued that vulnerable Nigerians without phones, television sets or social media accounts cannot easily participate in online debates about whether government programmes are reaching them. According to him, their absence from public conversations should not be taken as evidence that they have not benefited from government interventions.
“We have given 75,000 naira to over 10 million Nigerians across the country,” Yilwatda said while explaining the programme.
He added that the beneficiaries were poor and vulnerable people who could not easily participate in public discussions. Reports from other Nigerian media outlets also quoted him as saying many beneficiaries lack phones and access to television.
The claim comes as social protection programmes remain a major part of discussions about the government’s response to economic hardship. Questions about beneficiary numbers, payment systems and accountability have also continued to feature in public debate.
For more coverage of Federal Government economic policies, readers can also see Tinubu’s statement on lower transport fares from October 1.
APC Chairman Highlights Government Projects
Beyond the cash transfer programme, Yilwatda listed road construction and student loans among initiatives of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
He said road projects were being carried out across the country and that Nigerians were being employed at construction sites. He presented the projects as part of the administration’s broader response to economic challenges.
Yilwatda also referred to student loans as another programme implemented by the administration. He linked the various interventions to what he described as the gains from the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The APC chairman has previously defended the government’s economic policies during public engagements. His latest comments also touched on the debate over whether the removal of the subsidy has provided sufficient benefits to Nigerians.
Torch TV News previously reported on the Federal Government’s claim that Nigerians would see lower transport fares.
Cash Transfer Programme Faces Public Scrutiny
The conditional cash transfer programme has attracted public attention because of the scale of the payments and the number of people the government says have benefited.
Yilwatda’s latest figure is a political claim made during an APC event. It should therefore be distinguished from independently verified beneficiary data.
Recent reporting has shown that government officials have cited millions of households reached through social protection programmes. At the same time, concerns about documentation and accountability for some cash transfer funds have also been raised publicly.
These issues have made the administration of social intervention programmes an important part of Nigeria’s economic policy debate.
The central question remains how effectively government assistance reaches vulnerable households and how those payments can be independently tracked.
Readers can also follow the FCC’s report that Federal Government jobs should be accessible without connections for more coverage of government opportunities.
Yilwatda Defends Tinubu Administration
The APC chairman used the Maiduguri engagement to highlight what he described as achievements of the Tinubu administration.
He mentioned infrastructure projects, student loans and humanitarian programmes as examples of government interventions. He also said road construction was creating employment for Nigerians working on project sites.
Yilwatda’s comments formed part of a broader defence of the administration’s policies following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The APC chairman also criticised arguments for reversing the subsidy policy. He said returning to the previous arrangement could affect government projects and programmes.
According to Yilwatda, the administration is using resources previously spent on fuel subsidies to support other areas of the economy. His position reflects the APC’s broader defence of the government’s economic reforms.
The subsidy debate has remained contentious, with political figures offering different assessments of its effects. Torch TV News previously reported on Adebayo’s call for Nigerian youths to take politics beyond social media.
APC NEC Reviews Party Affairs
Yilwatda also disclosed details of the APC National Executive Council retreat in Maiduguri.
He said the NEC reviewed the party’s activities from the national level down to states, local governments, wards and polling units. According to him, the review focused on the party’s performance and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda said the party concluded that it remained prepared for the next general election. He also said the NEC discussed areas where reconciliation was needed within the party.
The APC chairman said state chapters were encouraged to establish reconciliation committees where necessary. He explained that the aim was to strengthen the party ahead of the next election cycle.
The party’s preparations come as political activities across Nigeria continue to intensify ahead of 2027. Torch TV News has reported on the NDC’s preparations for its 2027 presidential campaign council.
APC NEC Passes Vote of Confidence
According to Yilwatda, the APC NEC also passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
He said the vote also covered other APC candidates who emerged from the party’s primaries for the 2027 elections.
The statement reflects the position reached at the party’s NEC retreat. It does not independently establish how voters will respond to the party or its candidates in the general election.
Yilwatda said the party would continue preparing its structures for the elections. He also said the APC would use its campaign engagements to communicate the administration’s policies and programmes.
The party’s preparations are taking place alongside activities by opposition groups across the country. Nigerian political parties are already positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Torch TV News has also reported on the 2027 political campaign plans involving presidential candidates.
Party Plans More Reconciliation
Yilwatda said the NEC agreed that reconciliation should continue in areas where disagreements exist.
He encouraged state chapters to establish reconciliation committees where necessary. According to him, the approach would help strengthen party structures and maintain cohesion.
Political parties often face internal disagreements after primaries and leadership contests. The APC chairman said reconciliation would therefore remain part of the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
He also said the party intended to coordinate its campaign messaging more closely. According to him, national and state party structures would continue highlighting the policies and projects of the Tinubu administration.
The APC’s internal preparations come as other political parties also work to strengthen their structures. Recent developments have included new alliances, campaign structures and debates over candidates.
Readers can also see the report on seven political parties signing a peace accord ahead of the Enugu local government elections.
Yilwatda Condemns Niger Mining Tragedy
The APC NEC retreat also addressed the recent mining tragedy in Niger State.
Yilwatda expressed condolences to the government and people of Niger State over the deaths of 37 miners. He said the party’s thoughts and prayers were with the victims’ families and the wider community.
The mining deaths have generated calls for investigations into safety standards and conditions at mining sites. Questions about illegal and artisanal mining have also remained prominent in Nigeria’s public debate.
Torch TV News has reported on calls for a probe into deaths involving Niger State miners.
The tragedy has also raised concerns about the safety of workers in the mining sector. Reports about survivors and alleged conditions surrounding mining operations have added to those concerns.
The APC chairman’s remarks at the retreat therefore covered both party affairs and a major national tragedy.
Government Interventions Remain Political Talking Point
The cash transfer programme is likely to remain part of political discussions because social protection has become a major issue under the Tinubu administration.
Yilwatda’s argument is that many beneficiaries are not visible online because they lack the technology needed to participate in social media conversations. He said this means online discussions may not capture the experiences of vulnerable Nigerians who receive government support.
However, the number of beneficiaries and the administration of the programme remain matters for official records and independent scrutiny. Recent reporting has highlighted both government claims about the reach of the programme and concerns raised about accountability.
The distinction is important because political statements about government programmes do not, by themselves, independently verify beneficiary figures.
For more coverage of Nigeria’s economic and social policy debates, readers can also see the report on RMAFC seeking Chinese investment.
APC Prepares for 2027 Elections
The Maiduguri retreat also provided an opportunity for the APC leadership to outline its preparations for the next general election.
Yilwatda said the party had reviewed its structures and remained focused on strengthening its presence across the country. He said reconciliation would continue in states and areas where internal disagreements require attention.
The APC chairman also said the party would drive its campaign messaging from the front. He said party officials would explain what the Tinubu administration had done across the country.
The comments come as parties begin shaping their strategies for the 2027 elections. While the APC has outlined its plans, other political parties are also organising and promoting their own programmes.
Torch TV News has reported on the APC’s campaign activities in Enugu East as part of wider coverage of political developments in the South-East.
Yilwatda Calls for Support for Tinubu
At the end of the retreat, Yilwatda said the NEC called on Nigerians to continue supporting the Tinubu administration.
He said the party would continue communicating the administration’s policies and projects during political engagements. He also linked the call to the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The APC’s position follows the NEC’s reported vote of confidence in Tinubu, Shettima and the party’s other 2027 candidates.
Such statements represent the position of the APC and should be distinguished from independent assessments of the administration’s record or its electoral prospects.
The party is expected to continue its mobilisation activities as the 2027 election cycle progresses. Other parties are also expected to intensify their own campaigns and policy messaging.
Torch TV News recently reported on political parties preparing for the 2027 election cycle.
Yilwatda Says Beneficiaries Are Outside Online Debates
Yilwatda’s central argument was that social media discussions do not necessarily represent the experiences of the poorest Nigerians.
He said many of those who benefited from the N75,000 conditional cash transfer programme do not have phones or access to social media. He therefore argued that their views may not appear in online debates about whether the government is reaching vulnerable Nigerians.
The claim has drawn attention because it connects the visibility of government beneficiaries with digital access. It also highlights the wider digital divide between Nigerians who regularly participate online and those who have limited access to communication technology.
According to Yilwatda, more than 10 million people benefited from the programme. That figure remains a claim attributed to the APC chairman, while broader questions about the programme’s records and implementation continue to attract public scrutiny.
For further coverage of government initiatives, readers can also see the report on the proposed solar power programme for Nigerian households.
APC Retreat Ends With Multiple Resolutions
The three-day retreat ended with the APC leadership outlining several resolutions concerning the party and national issues.
Yilwatda said the NEC reviewed party structures and performance across different levels. He also announced plans for continued reconciliation and stronger coordination ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party also expressed condolences over the Niger mining tragedy. At the same time, its leadership used the retreat to defend the Tinubu administration’s programmes and economic policies.
The cash transfer programme was one of the interventions highlighted by Yilwatda. He said the programme had reached more than 10 million vulnerable Nigerians with N75,000 each.
The claim comes amid wider scrutiny of social intervention programmes and debates about whether government assistance is reaching the Nigerians who need it most.
As the political cycle moves toward 2027, government programmes are expected to remain central to campaign messages from both the ruling party and opposition groups.
