Abuja, Nigeria – The number of Nigerians benefiting from the Federal Government’s cash transfer programme has reached 32.21 million as of January 2025, according to a new World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report. The initiative, implemented under the National Social Safety Net Program-Scale Up (NASSP-SU), aims to provide financial relief to vulnerable households across the country.
The report highlights a steady expansion of the programme despite initial delays, with over 5 million households now receiving direct cash transfers. The scheme is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and is part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s social safety net system.
Key Findings from the Report
- Total beneficiaries grew from 30.35 million in June 2024 to 32.21 million in January 2025.
- Women account for a significant share of recipients, with 28.55 million female beneficiaries.
- The Economic Shock Responsive Cash Transfer (ESR-CT) component now supports 5.39 million households.
- The Extended Regular Cash Transfer (ER-CT) programme covers 1.51 million households.
- All payments are now processed digitally using verified National Identification Numbers (NIN) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) for transparency.
Implementation and Expansion Efforts
To enhance efficiency and security, the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) has intensified efforts to ensure beneficiaries have verified identities. The agency has partnered with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to register and validate social safety net recipients.
NASSCO has also been licensed as a front-end enrollment partner for NIN registrations, allowing it to onboard more households into the system. Since March 2024, all transfers have been strictly limited to beneficiaries with verified NINs or BVNs, following a directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
This move is expected to prevent fraud, enhance accountability, and ensure that funds reach the intended recipients efficiently.
Challenges and Risks
Despite its progress, the World Bank assigned the programme a “Moderately Satisfactory” rating, citing several challenges:
Implementation delays caused by leadership and policy changes.
Political and macroeconomic risks, classified as “Substantial,” which could impact the programme’s sustainability.
Lack of beneficiary satisfaction surveys, making it difficult to assess the programme’s full impact.
Additionally, the report underscores the need for continued adoption of digital payments, as 100% of cash transfers are now electronically processed using biometric verification.
Government Commitment and Future Outlook
Following the appointment of new ministers in October 2024, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the cash transfer programme. The World Bank projects that the number of beneficiaries could rise to 56 million by December 2025 if the current implementation pace is sustained.
The increasing number of beneficiaries signals a broader government effort to cushion vulnerable households from economic hardship, inflation, and high food prices. The emphasis on digital payments and identity verification reflects a push for greater transparency and financial inclusion.
However, the political and economic uncertainties highlighted by the World Bank suggest that sustained funding, policy stability, and improved beneficiary feedback mechanisms will be crucial to maintaining the programme’s momentum.
For businesses and financial service providers, the expansion of digitally enabled payments presents new opportunities, including fintech innovation, mobile money adoption, and deeper financial inclusion among underserved populations.
As the government targets 56 million beneficiaries by the end of 2025, the long-term success of the programme will depend on consistent funding, efficient implementation, and enhanced monitoring to ensure real impact on poverty reduction.
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