FG Reaffirms Social Protection Drive, Says 5.5m Nigerians Received Cash Transfers

ANEEJ seeks reduction of inequality in Nigeria 

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja 

The federal government yesterday said it was strengthening Nigeria’s social protection framework to better address poverty, vulnerability, and humanitarian crises across the country, stressing that so far 5.5 persons have benefitted from its conditional cash transfer programme.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, yesterday in Abuja at the inaugural national steering committee meeting of ACT Naija organised by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ).

The minister outlined the federal government’s progress in strengthening social protection through the National Social Investment Programme Agency, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, National Senior Citizens Centre, and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

Doro, who was represented by his Special Adviser, Abimbola Fashanu, said: “Under the renewed hope agenda, programmes such as Conditional Cash Transfers, the Grant for Vulnerable Groups, N-Power, GEEP, Home-Grown School Feeding, and the National Social Safety-Net Coordination remain central to supporting vulnerable households.

“Over 19.7 million households are verified in the national social register, with 5.5 million benefiting from cash transfers. Microcredit schemes have also reached more than 5 million Nigerians across all local government areas.”

He added that ongoing zonal consultations for updating the national social protection policy have been concluded in four geopolitical zones, while the South-east and South-south sessions will be completed before the end of November 2025.

“The zonal consultation has been concluded in the South-west, North-central, North-west, and North-east geopolitical zones. The one for the South-east and South-south geopolitical zones will be concluded before the end of November 2025,” he said.

Doro noted that the ministry recently completed the Skill-to-Wealth Programme, which trained unemployed youths in solar installation, greenhouse agriculture, and automobile engineering. 

He added that work is underway on a ‘shock-responsive’ social protection framework, supported by the World Food Programme (WFP), to improve the country’s readiness for pandemics, climate shocks, displacement, and economic crises.

“The ministry is also finalising arrangements with some partners on Shock Responsive Social Protection Framework and Adaptive Social Protection. These are geared at activating an Emergency Response Plan that will assist the government in addressing any unexpected crisis. Some of these include pandemics, climate change, displacement, and economic crises.

“In addition, collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) has produced a draft Shock Responsive Social Protection (SRSP) Standard Operating Procedure, which, after stakeholder validation, will provide a coordinated framework for addressing humanitarian crises and delivering durable solutions to affected populations,” he explained.

Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the Executive Director of ANEEJ, David Ugolor, said the inaugural meeting marked a major milestone in the country’s collective effort to strengthen social protection and ensure that no citizen is left behind.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to strengthen Nigeria’s social protection system and ensure that no citizen is left behind,” Ugolor said.

He described the ACT Naija project as a platform that brings together government officials, civil society organisations, and development partners to promote inclusive, sustainable, and accountable social protection delivery nationwide.

Ugolor said the presence of the minister signalled the federal government’s renewed commitment to poverty reduction.

“Your presence here is a strong signal of the government’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and aligning state and non-state actors toward achieving the shared vision of social inclusion and poverty eradication,” he said.

He stressed that social protection remains essential to breaking the cycle of poverty, promoting dignity, and fostering inclusive growth, noting that its success depends on effective coordination among all stakeholders.

He reaffirmed the consortium’s commitment, supported by the European Union (EU), to helping federal and state governments strengthen policy frameworks, expand coverage, enhance transparency, and deepen citizen engagement.

“We recognise that social protection remains a key instrument for breaking the cycle of poverty, promoting human dignity, and fostering inclusive growth. However, its success depends on effective coordination among all stakeholders: government, civil society, private sector, and development partners.

“This collaboration, co-funded by the European Union, reflects the global commitment to promoting social justice and reducing inequality in Nigeria,” he noted.