Sokoto Govt, UNICEF Launch Social Register Expansion to Cover 250,000 Households

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto 

The Sokoto State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), have unveiled a major expansion of the state’s Social Register, aiming to enrol 250,000 households across the seven pilot local government areas.

The initiative, described as a “crucial document providing credible and transparent data for social‑protection programmes,” was announced at a one‑day orientation meeting for local government teams and stakeholders.

State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Muhammad Zayyana, told participants that the Social Register will serve as a data‑driven tool for policymakers and partners to make informed decisions, target beneficiaries and assess the impact of interventions.

“Social protection aims to reduce social injustice, exclusion and insecurity while improving human‑capital development,” Dr. Zayyana said, adding that the government’s focus is on results rather than outcomes.

UNICEF’s Chief of the Sokoto Field Office, Dr Michael Juma, represented by Social Policy Specialist, Mr. Isah Ibrahim, explained the new multidimensional approach seeks to integrate the most deprived households into basic services such as education, nutrition, health, birth registration, water and sanitation.

“It is a single database of poor and vulnerable households, their community profile and deprivation status, which will harmonise all State Social Registers and be available to any poverty‑intervention programme upon formal request,” Ibrahim said. 

He urged local government teams to cooperate with enumerators to ensure the successful rollout.

The revised targeting community‑engagement strategy emphasises multidimensional poverty, aiming to create an inclusive, service‑linking and interoperable National Social Register.

According to Ibrahim, the model will act as a gateway to health, nutrition, education and social services through established referral systems, while enhancing transparency and grievance‑redress mechanisms.

Chairman of Shagari Local Government, Barrister Maidawa Kajiji, speaking on behalf of the seven local government chairmen, praised the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and UNICEF for introducing programmes aimed at social protection.

“These initiatives will positively impact poverty reduction among the poor and vulnerable populations,” he said.

In a goodwill message, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar Jabbi, noted the state’s efforts, together with UNICEF, are bridging gaps and harmonising the Social Register for the overall benefit of the state. He called on participants to support the crusade.

State Coordinator of the State Operations Coordinating Unit, Alhaji Chika Waziri Junaidu, earlier highlighted that the meeting was convened to enhance social‑protection programmes and improve citizen well‑being.

The expansion, expected to be completed within the next year, marks one of the largest social‑register initiatives in northern Nigeria with the potential to lift thousands out of poverty and improve access to essential services.