At least 5.5 million Nigerian households are currently benefiting from the Federal Government’s cash transfer programmes, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, has disclosed.
The minister revealed this on Tuesday at the inaugural meeting of the National Steering Committee of the Act Naija project held in Abuja. He was represented by his aide, Abimbola Fasanu.
According to him, the ministry—Nigeria’s lead institution for social protection—is strengthening systems designed to address poverty, vulnerability, and humanitarian challenges across the country.
“Key programmes include the Conditional Cash Transfer, the Grant for Vulnerable Groups, N-POWER, GEEP, Homegrown School Feeding, and the National Social Safety-Net Coordination,” he said.
He added that over 19.78 million households had been verified in the National Social Register, which is used to target beneficiaries of government interventions.
“Currently, 5.5 million households benefit from cash transfers, while micro-credit schemes support the livelihoods of over 5 million Nigerians, with strong participation from women and youth across all 774 local government areas,” he stated.
Dr Doro also announced that the ministry and other stakeholders were reviewing and updating the National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) to reflect the country’s changing socio-economic landscape and to align with the government’s strategic priorities.
While inaugurating the Act Naija National Steering Committee, he said the project aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to empower vulnerable households, enhance transparency, and deliver measurable impact through coordinated social protection systems.
He emphasised that the committee would provide strategic guidance and harmonise contributions from multiple stakeholders. He urged members to serve with integrity, professionalism, and dedication.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, said the inauguration marked a significant milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s social protection architecture and ensuring that no citizen is left behind.