The Federal Government has disclosed that over 9.2 million households across the country have benefited from a cash transfer initiative introduced to mitigate the impact of ongoing economic pressures.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, made this known on Monday during the HOPE-CT implementation update and press conference in Abuja, where he outlined the scale and progress of the intervention.
According to him, the programme, which is anchored on the National Social Register, has so far disbursed about ₦688 billion to vulnerable Nigerians within two years.
“Under this intervention, eligible households receive ₦75,000 distributed over three tranches, helping families meet essential needs such as food, healthcare, and education,” Doro said.
He added, “As of today, 9,178,837 beneficiary households across Nigeria have received at least the first tranche of ₦25,000, demonstrating the scale and reach of this programme.”
Providing further breakdown, the minister noted that “7,203,579 beneficiaries have received the second tranche, while 6,497,089 have received the third tranche, with disbursement continuing to roll out across all states.”
“The remaining beneficiaries within these tranches are actively being processed, and every eligible household will receive their full entitlement,” he assured.
Doro explained that the intervention, which ran from November 2023 to February 2026, was designed as a shock-response mechanism to support low-income households affected by macroeconomic reforms.
On gender distribution, he revealed that women account for the majority of beneficiaries.
“Out of the 9.17 million beneficiaries reached so far, 5,391,225 are women — representing 58.7 per cent — while 3,787,612 are men, representing 41.3 per cent,” he said.
“By empowering women through the HOPE Cash Transfer Programme, we are supporting mothers, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who form the backbone of family resilience across Nigeria,” Doro added.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said identity verification has strengthened the transparency and credibility of the programme.
“Identity, especially in Nigeria, goes beyond just being a number. It is access to opportunity, social protection, and the full benefits of citizenship,” she said.
Coker-Odusote disclosed that “a total of 13,240,100 individual records have been securely shared with NIMC for verification.”
“Out of this figure, 11,831,861 records have been successfully verified, while 1,408,284 records did not pass verification,” she added.
She, however, described the failed records as part of the system’s integrity process.
“This is not a setback; it is the strength of the system. Every failed record has been analysed, and we have provided clear solutions. An additional 3.1 million records are currently undergoing processing,” she explained.
On the broader impact, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by the Director of Protocol, Dr Suleiman Haruna, said the programme has provided relief to millions of Nigerians.
“This programme is about showing Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots, that they are seen, heard, and supported,” he said.
“Over the years, many Nigerians have fallen into economic vulnerability, but in recent times, several have been supported through targeted government interventions,” he added.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, said the initiative was designed to stabilise vulnerable households and build resilience.
“Through the integration of the National Social Register and digital payment systems, the programme continues to strengthen transparency, improve targeting, and deepen financial inclusion,” he said.
Earlier, the Programme Manager of the National Cash Transfer Office, Abdullahi Alhassan, disclosed that the initiative is funded through an $800 million facility from the International Development Association of the World Bank.
He added that the scope of the programme has been expanded.
“The number of beneficiaries has now been reviewed upward from 10.4 million to 15 million vulnerable Nigerians,” Alhassan said.
