The Nigerian Federal Government has announced an ambitious plan to provide cash transfers of N75,000 to approximately 70 million of the nation’s poorest citizens by the year 2025.
This initiative was revealed by Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, during an interview on The Morning Show on Arise Television.
Professor Yilwatda outlined that the ministry’s goal is to implement the program across all 36 states by the end of January 2025, aiming to register up to 18.1 million households through the National Identity Number (NIN) system. He stated, “Our intention is to roll out the program across all states by January and begin the process of capturing the NIN of these households as quickly as possible to facilitate their payments.”
The president’s initiative focuses on aiding approximately 15 million households, which, considering the average household size of 4 to 5 individuals, translates to an estimated 70 million people benefiting from this support scheme.
Part of this program is designed to bolster the digital identities of low-income Nigerians by partnering with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to improve NIN registrations. According to the minister, enhancing the database of the vulnerable population is crucial for the success of the cash transfer initiative. “Currently, we have only 1.4 million of the poorest individuals registered with an NIN. We are working closely with NIMC to increase this number through resource allocation and training,” he mentioned.
Yilwatda also shared ongoing efforts in states like Rivers, Kwara, Abuja, and Nasarawa for data capturing, highlighting that the aim is to mobilize resources and technology to ensure an effective and accountable cash transfer program.
He underscored the transformative potential of digital registration in making the cash transfer initiative more efficient. “Utilizing technology will enhance accuracy, facilitate tracking, and ensure that funds reach those genuinely in need,” he emphasized.
In a related context, it is worth noting that on January 12, 2024, President Bola Tinubu suspended all programs administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation due to allegations of mismanagement. Prior to this, on January 8, 2024, the president had suspended Betta
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