I will try to live-tweet highlights of #StateHouseBriefing, featuring Governor @elrufai this morning. Follow this thread. See previous tweet for livestream link.
A thread about Nigeria’s Conditional Cash Transfer program @HUPcct - one of the programs under the National Social Investment Programme; and whether N5,000 a month (current monthly payment, to 1.6 million Nigerian households) can make a difference in people’s lives or not.
HM @Sadiya_farouq was asked about the N5,000 at #StateHouseBriefing yesterday. A journalist, asking a question, spoke dismissively about the amount - that N5,000 cannot do anything.
Minister’s reply:
“Saying 5,000 cannot make a difference in ppl’s lives is an elitist statement. We know, ‘cos we’ve gone to the field. We’ve seen ppl, when you pay them this @HUPcct 5k, they cry ‘cos they’ve never seen 5k before. It goes a long way, changes their status.”
“Our relationship is directly related to our commitment to the service of our people and country… Our state was very lucky to find such a person in Professor Zulum… Borno State got it right with him….”
“I am a philosopher king, and none of the vagaries of power holds much tenacious attraction to me. In life, as in politics, there are the winter years; you go into hibernation and blossom during the summer period.” — Senator @KashimSM
“I held sway for eight years, but when a new sheriff came into town I had to move up to a higher plane and went off the radar and allowed him to blossom and call the shots.”
“China gave you loan to build railways and you decided to build one to the deserts of Niger.”
Clearly ignorant as to how these loans work. He thinks China just hands over cash and @NigeriaGov decides to do whatever they wish with the cash.
LMAO. This is really daft, sorry
All loans from China are tied to specific projects - so far the portfolio includes Rail, Airport and ICT projects. The details are public, on @DMONigeria website.
So the idea that Nigeria can decide what to use a loan for, post-approval, suggests this person KNOWS NOTHING