…targets 50m by year end
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Federal Government announced on Thursday that it has successfully disbursed conditional cash transfers to over 34 million vulnerable Nigerians, marking a significant step in its efforts to mitigate economic hardship across the country.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, disclosed the figure in Calabar, Cross River State, during the maiden edition of the National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Dr. Doro revealed that the administration is aggressively expanding the social safety net, with a target to reach 50 million beneficiaries before the end of 2026.
He emphasized that social protection remains a central pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s poverty reduction strategy.
“The Federal Government has so far provided conditional cash transfers to over 34 million vulnerable Nigerians and is working to reach 50 million beneficiaries before the end of the year,” Doro stated.
The Minister explained that the Council was established to eliminate the fragmented approach to humanitarian interventions which has historically limited sustainable impact.
Speaking on the theme, “Beyond the National: Strengthening Sub-national and Multi-Stakeholders’ Synergy,” Doro noted that no single level of government can resolve Nigeria’s humanitarian challenges alone.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Tanko Sununu, noted that shifting global dynamics have made collective action and innovative approaches essential for effective humanitarian response.
During the technical sessions, participants submitted 99 memoranda for consideration. Of these, 37 were approved, 19 were merged for efficiency, and 25 were withdrawn.
A significant contribution came from the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), which urged the government to create a national framework for monitoring and evaluating poverty reduction initiatives.
Dr. Judith-Ann Walker, Executive Director of dRPC, argued that such a framework would harmonize indicators and improve coordination between federal and subnational governments.
“At present, interventions vary significantly across states, presenting a challenge to coordinated and harmonized monitoring of poverty reduction in Nigeria,” she said.
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, represented by his deputy, Peter Odey, pledged continued support for initiatives targeting border communities, particularly those impacted by displacement and cross-border movements from Cameroon.