The Federal Government has disclosed that more than N600 billion has been disbursed to over nine million households under its national cash transfer programme aimed at supporting poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
The disclosure was made as the government continues to expand its social protection interventions under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, had earlier confirmed that the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme had reached more than nine million households across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the minister, eligible households receive a total of N75,000 in three instalments under the programme.
The cash transfer scheme is designed to provide direct financial assistance to vulnerable households and help cushion the impact of economic hardship.
In April, Doro disclosed during a stakeholders’ engagement in Ondo State that about 396,671 households had been captured under three payment phases in the state, with approximately N9.9 billion disbursed.
He said the nationwide programme had reached more than nine million households across the 36 states and the FCT, while the government was conducting validation exercises to verify beneficiaries and assess the impact of the payments.
The minister also acknowledged the need for improved public awareness and transparency to ensure that eligible Nigerians understand the programme and can access the support.
The Federal Government has maintained that its social protection programmes are part of efforts to reduce poverty, strengthen household resilience and provide relief to vulnerable Nigerians amid the rising cost of living.
The latest figures underline the scale of the government’s cash-based intervention, although questions remain about the adequacy of the payments, coverage of vulnerable households and the effectiveness of monitoring mechanisms to ensure that funds reach intended beneficiaries.
The government has said it would continue validating beneficiaries and engaging directly with recipients to improve accountability and the delivery of social protection programmes.
