Hundreds of residents converged on the Gumel Local Government Secretariat in Jigawa State on Tuesday following the circulation of a false social media claim alleging that holders of COVID-19 vaccination cards would receive a ₦75,000 government grant.
The rumour, which spread rapidly through WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms, prompted many residents to abandon their daily activities and travel to the council headquarters in anticipation of collecting the supposed payment.
Witnesses reported seeing large crowds at the secretariat and other public locations as residents sought to verify the claim, which promised financial assistance to anyone who could present proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
The development is linked to the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns conducted across Jigawa State between 2021 and 2023. During the exercise, coordinated by the State Ministry of Health and the Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (JSPHCDA), millions of residents received vaccines and were issued vaccination cards as evidence of immunisation.
Authorities believe fraudsters are now exploiting information from the previous vaccination exercise to deceive residents with false promises of financial rewards.
Speaking to journalists, a resident, Malam Idris Sani, said he travelled about 15 kilometres from his village after receiving the message.
“I saw a WhatsApp message claiming that COVID-19 vaccination card holders would receive ₦75,000. I arrived early, only to discover that there was no such programme,” he said.
Another resident, Maryamu Salisu, expressed disappointment after learning that the information was false.
“The message said vaccinated people would be paid by the government. I brought my vaccination card, but officials informed us that it was fake news,” she said.
In response, the Gumel Local Government Council dismissed the claim as entirely false.
The Special Adviser to the Chairman on New Media, Hussaini Umar Gumel, said no government agency had announced any financial grant for COVID-19 vaccination card holders.
“There is no truth whatsoever in the report. Residents should ignore the rumour and always verify information before sharing or acting on it,” he stated.
He added that council officials had begun sensitisation efforts to discourage the spread of misinformation within the community.
A senior official of the Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, also denied the existence of any grant scheme.
“The agency has not approved and is not disbursing any payment to vaccinated persons. The claim is completely false,” the official said.
He cautioned residents against providing personal information or making payments to individuals promoting the scheme.
“Scammers often exploit old vaccination records and public programmes to deceive people. Residents should remain vigilant and avoid sharing sensitive information,” he warned.
The Jigawa State Ministry of Health similarly distanced itself from the rumour.
The ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Sagir Nayaya, said there was no health programme offering ₦75,000 to COVID-19 vaccination card holders.
“This information is false and misleading. Members of the public should rely on official government channels and credible media organisations for accurate information,” he said.
Authorities have urged residents across the state to verify information before acting on it and to report suspicious messages intended to defraud members of the public.
