The Federal Government has unveiled plans to expand its flagship social protection initiative to millions more vulnerable Nigerians, following the disbursement of N688bn to households across the country under its cash transfer scheme.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, disclosed this while speaking with Saturday PUNCH in Abuja at the HOPE-CT implementation update and press conference in Abuja.
Anchored on the National Social Register, the cash transfer scheme is one of the Federal Government’s key social protection interventions aimed at cushioning the effects of recent economic reforms on vulnerable households.
It is being implemented in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission, the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, the National Cash Transfer Office, and the National Social Investment Programme Agency.
Speaking on the expansion plan, Doro said, “We have set a target to move the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme from the current 9.2million to 15 million Nigerians.”
He explained that the initiative aligns with the broader policy direction of the current administration.
The minister added, “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, our approach to social protection is evolving. We are moving beyond short-term humanitarian responses toward building a credible, transparent, and sustainable national social protection system that Nigerians can trust.”
Highlighting the impact of the intervention, the minister stressed the value of the financial support to beneficiaries, adding that while the scheme offers immediate relief, its long-term objective is broader,
“A sum of N75,000 is indeed a lot of money to Nigerians, and there are many things they could do with it. To the elite, you could view this as insignificant in terms of your personal income. But to the poor and vulnerable, it means a lot.
“While the programme provides immediate relief, the long-term vision is to create pathways toward sustainable household prosperity,” he stated.
Citing feedback from beneficiaries, Doro said, “I am sure you have heard some of the testimonies. There are in fact hundreds of them on how this money has changed lives. So, we need to continue to promote the good work that has been done by the HOPE-CT implementation programme.”
No fewer than 9.2 million Nigerians have so far benefited from the Federal Government’s Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme, with approximately ₦688bn disbursed within two years, according to available records.
The HOPE-CT initiative was introduced as a shock-response mechanism to support low-income Nigerians amid ongoing macroeconomic adjustments. Beneficiaries receive ₦75,000 in three tranches.
Providing a timeline, the minister explained that “the intervention spanned from November 2023 to February 2026.”
