Rufai, Abati disagree over Natasha's bundle of cash in Kogi

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan defended her decision to publicly distribute large sums of cash to constituents in Kogi constituency during a recent empowerment programme. In a statement to The PUNCH, her media aide, Mike Idoko, explained that the cash distribution was based on beneficiaries' preference for direct financial assistance over business equipment.

The decision came under scrutiny on social media, with some questioning the propriety of the cash handouts and their effectiveness in poverty alleviation. Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified that previous empowerment exercises had shown that some beneficiaries preferred cash because of immediate business needs. She stated that giving cash was a practical option for addressing a range of challenges, from business expansion and stock replenishment to acquiring essential production materials.

The Senator noted that entrepreneurs have different operational realities, making direct cash assistance a viable solution. During her third anniversary in office, Akpoti-Uduaghan's cash empowerment programme covered small-scale entrepreneurs in sectors such as agriculture, tailoring, content creation, and manufacturing. Beneficiaries received grants ranging from ₦100,000 to ₦5m, with some receiving amounts up to ₦5m through bank transfers.