Residents Flock to Local Government Amid False Subsidy Rumor
A crowd gathered at the Gumer Local Government Secretariat on Tuesday, sparked by a false rumor circulating online that residents with COVID-19 vaccination cards were eligible for a subsidy of N75,000.
Punch Online has reported that residents of Gumeru Local Government Area hurried to the parliamentary secretariat and other public venues in response to the widespread claim.
The rumor suggested that individuals could receive financial aid simply by providing proof of their vaccination status. As the post gained traction on social media and WhatsApp groups, many residents believed the misinformation, abandoning their daily routines in favor of lining up for nonexistent payments.
The false claims have been linked to a COVID-19 vaccination campaign conducted by the Jigawa State Government from 2021 to 2023. The initiative was managed by the state Ministry of Health alongside the Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, with the backing of federal health authorities.
Throughout the campaign, millions of residents were vaccinated at designated centers within 287 district health facilities across the state, including the Gumel facility, and issued vaccination cards as proof of their inoculation. The recent rumors in the Gumel local council seem to have been exploited by scammers targeting unsuspecting residents with promises of fictitious subsidies.
In separate interviews with Punch, two residents shared their experiences. Malam Idris Sani mentioned that he traveled 15 kilometers from his village after seeing the rumorous message. “I heard on WhatsApp that COVID-19 card holders will collect N75,000 today. I came early but I couldn’t find anything here,” he lamented.
Another resident, Mariam Saris, voiced her disappointment at the misinformation. “There were jokes suggesting that the government wanted to provide benefits to vaccinated people. I brought my card, but the authorities said it was fake news,” she recounted.
Local Authorities Act to Counter Misinformation
The Gumel Local Government Council swiftly addressed the situation. Hussaini Umar Gumel, Special Assistant to the Speaker on New Media, confirmed to Punch, “This news is totally baseless. No government agency has announced the N75,000 subsidy for COVID-19 card holders.” He urged residents to dismiss such claims.
“People should ignore rumors and verify information before sharing or taking any action,” he advised. Additionally, city authorities are reminding residents to curb the spread of false news.
In a phone interview, a senior official from the Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Authority also refuted the subsidy rumor on the condition of anonymity. “JSPHCDA did not approve nor distribute any cash subsidies for those vaccinated. This rumor is entirely false,” he asserted.
The official emphasized a need for vigilance against scammers, stating, “Fraudsters are capitalizing on old vaccination data to exploit individuals. Please do not share your money or personal information with anyone regarding this fictitious subsidy.”
Furthermore, Sagir Nayaya, Public Relations Officer at the Jigawa State Ministry of Health, reiterated that their records do not support such claims. “No program in the Ministry of Health is disbursing N75,000 to COVID-19 card holders. This is incorrect information,” he stressed, urging the public to verify information with official sources.
“Before you believe or share information, especially from government websites or accredited media, please ensure you verify it,” Nayaya added.
