The Federal Government of Nigeria is preparing to implement a conditional cash transfer program targeting 15 million households, which is expected to benefit approximately 75 million Nigerians. This initiative was announced by Nentawe Yilwatda, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Under the program, each household will receive ₦25,000 per month, with disbursements occurring three times annually. This plan is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader strategy to reduce economic challenges faced by the country’s most vulnerable populations.
“The President is committed to introducing policies that address the struggles of those at the lowest levels of the socio-economic ladder. By targeting 15 million households, we aim to reach around 75 million individuals, assuming an average household size of five,” Yilwatda explained during the interview.
So far, five million beneficiaries have received support through the initiative, although only 1.4 million have been digitally registered, as required by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure transparency and accountability. To enhance the program’s reach, efforts are underway to cleanse the social register and include more individuals, especially those without access to formal banking systems.
A key aspect of the program is its focus on empowering women as household leaders, with the intention of ensuring that the financial aid directly benefits children and other vulnerable members of the family.
The initiative, which had been temporarily suspended in January due to allegations of corruption, resumed in February with a renewed commitment to expand its coverage to an additional 12 million households.
By addressing systemic issues and focusing on transparency, the government aims to provide meaningful relief to millions of Nigerians, alleviating poverty and improving the standard of living for the most disadvantaged communities.
