The Nigerian Federal Government has disclosed that approximately 5.5 million households across the country are currently benefiting from various government-backed cash transfer schemes aimed at reducing poverty.
Dr. Bernard Doro, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, made the disclosure at the inaugural National Steering Committee meeting of the Act Naija project in Abuja on Tuesday. He stressed the commitment of the government to strengthening its social protection systems to address humanitarian crises and vulnerability.
5.5 million households currently benefit from cash transfers and micro-credit schemes are supporting livelihoods for over 5 million Nigerians with strong participation of women and youth across all 774 local government areas – Dr Doro
Nigeria has one of the largest populations of people living in extreme poverty globally. The Federal Government’s social protection programs, managed by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, aim to provide safety nets for the most vulnerable citizens. These schemes became vital following the removal of fuel subsidies, which increased the cost of living for many families.
The government has already established a National Social Register (NSR) to track and verify citizens eligible for social safety-net interventions. The Minister reported that over 19.78 million households have been verified and recorded in this register.
The ministry oversees several programs, including the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG), N-POWER (youth empowerment), GEEP (micro-credit), and the Homegrown School Feeding programme.
The new Act Naija project and the review of the National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by focusing on transparency, measurable impact, and empowering vulnerable households across all 774 local government areas.
Micro-credit schemes managed by the Ministry are supporting livelihoods for over 5 million Nigerians, with strong participation from women and youth.
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