ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- No fewer than 9.2 million Nigerians have benefited from the Federal Government’s Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme, with about N688bn disbursed over two years.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, disclosed this on Monday during the HOPE-CT implementation update and press conference in Abuja.
The cash transfer initiative, anchored on the National Social Register, remains one of the Federal Government’s major social protection measures aimed at cushioning the impact of recent economic reforms on vulnerable households.
The programme is being executed in partnership 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.
In his presentation, Doro explained that the HOPE-CT initiative was introduced as a shock-response mechanism to support low-income Nigerians amid ongoing macroeconomic adjustments, noting that beneficiaries receive N75,000 in three tranches.
He said, “Under this intervention, eligible households receive N75,000 distributed over three tranches, helping families meet essential needs such as food, healthcare, and education.
“If you ask me, N75,000 is indeed a lot of money to Nigerians, and there are many things they could do with it.
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“As of today, 9,178,837 beneficiary households across Nigeria have received at least the first tranche of N25,000, demonstrating the scale and reach of this programme.
“The second and third tranches are progressing steadily. 7,203,579 beneficiaries have received the second tranche, and 6,497,089 have received the third, 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.”
On the timeline for reaching the entire 9.2 million households, the minister said the intervention covered the period from November 2023 to February 2026.
He added that all beneficiaries must be listed in the National Social Register and verified using either a National Identification Number or Bank Verification Number to ensure transparency.
“Out of the 9.17 million beneficiaries reached so far, 5,391,225 are women representing 58.7 per cent of all beneficiaries, while 3,787,612 are men, representing 41.3 per cent.
“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,” he stated.
The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the NIMC, Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said identity verification has strengthened transparency and accountability in the programme.
Coker-Odusote stressed that identity, particularly in Nigeria, goes beyond being just a number.
She said, “It is an access to opportunity, social protection, and full benefits of citizenship.
“This belief has guided our partnership with the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office to ensure that the HoPE-CT programme is not only impactful, but also transparent, targeted, and efficient.
“Today, I am pleased to report significant progress. As of the end of February, 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.
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“Now, let me emphasise this is not a setback. It is a strength of the system. Every failed record has been thoroughly analysed, and we have provided NASSCO with a clear diagnosis of the issues, alongside practical solution pathways.
“As we speak, an additional 3.1 million records are currently undergoing processing.”
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by the ministry’s Director of Protocols, Dr Suleiman Haruna, noted that the programme has brought relief to millions of Nigerians.
According to him, the HoPE-CT programme is about showing every Nigerian, especially those at the grassroots, that “their government sees, hears and is actively working to improve their lives.”
He said, “Over the years, many Nigerians have fallen into economic vulnerability. But in the last three years, many have been saved through various programmes of the government.
“We will continue to support all government programmes in their effort to reach their intended audiences.”
On the scope of the intervention, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Sununu, said the programme was designed to stabilise vulnerable households and build resilience.
He added that through the integration of the National Social Register and digital payment systems, the initiative continues to enhance transparency, improve targeting, and deepen financial inclusion, while ensuring efficient and accountable delivery of support.
Earlier, the Programme Manager of the National Cash Transfer Office, Abdullahi Alhassan, stated that the initiative is funded through an $800m facility from the International Development Association of the World Bank.
Alhassan also revealed that the number of beneficiaries has been increased from 10.4 million to 15 million vulnerable Nigerians.