FG disburses N688bn to 9.2 Million Nigerians under cash transfer programme

The Federal Government has disbursed about N688 billion to no fewer than 9.2 million Nigerians under its Household Opportunity and Empowerment Cash Transfer (HOPE-CT) programme within two years.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, disclosed this during an implementation update and press briefing in Abuja, noting that the initiative is designed to cushion the effects of ongoing economic reforms on vulnerable households.

According to him, the programme, anchored on the National Social Register, provides N75,000 to eligible households in three tranches to support basic needs such as food, healthcare, and education.

“As of today, over 9.17 million households have received at least the first tranche of N25,000. The second and third tranches are progressing steadily, with millions already paid,” he said.

Doro added that the intervention, which ran from November 2023 to February 2026, has achieved significant reach nationwide, with women accounting for 58.7 per cent of beneficiaries, underscoring efforts to empower caregivers and strengthen family resilience.

The programme is being implemented in collaboration with key agencies, including the National Identity Management Commission, the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, the National Cash Transfer Office, and the National Social Investment Programme Agency.

Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said identity verification through the National Identification Number and Bank Verification Number has enhanced transparency and accountability in the scheme. She revealed that over 11.8 million records had been successfully verified, while others are still undergoing processing.

Also speaking, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the initiative demonstrates government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable citizens and improving living conditions at the grassroots.

The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, added that the programme strengthens financial inclusion and ensures efficient delivery of assistance through digital payment systems.

The Programme Manager of the National Cash Transfer Office, Abdullahi Alhassan, disclosed that the initiative is backed by an $800 million facility from the International Development Association of the World Bank, with plans to expand coverage to 15 million vulnerable Nigerians.

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