The Federal Government has disclosed that more than ₦600 billion has been spent on cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, with about 10 million households reportedly reached through the programme.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, disclosed this during an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday while speaking about the administration’s efforts to reduce poverty and support Nigerians facing economic difficulties.
Doro said the cash transfer programme remains one of the government’s key measures for providing direct financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households across the country.
He disclosed that the government had so far disbursed more than ₦600 billion through the programme, with the funds targeted at households considered to be in need of financial support.
The minister also spoke about the government’s vocational skills acquisition programme, which is aimed at helping Nigerians gain practical skills and develop sources of income.
He said about 18,000 Nigerians had been trained under the programme and provided with starter kits and stipends to enable them to begin using the skills acquired during the training.
Doro also gave an assessment of the living conditions of Nigerians under the Tinubu administration, which began in May 2023.
When asked whether Nigerians were better off under the current government, the minister expressed confidence that the situation had improved.
However, when asked to provide data to support the claim, he did not provide specific figures to measure the improvement in the living conditions of Nigerians.
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The government’s position comes amid continued concerns over the rising cost of living, high food prices and pressure on household incomes across the country.
Since assuming office, the Tinubu administration has introduced several economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy. The government has defended the reforms as necessary steps towards improving public finances and creating a stronger economy in the long term.
The changes have also increased economic pressure on many households, leading the Federal Government to expand social intervention programmes designed to provide assistance to vulnerable citizens.
Cash transfers have formed part of those measures, with the government using direct payments to provide temporary financial support to households affected by economic hardship.
The administration has also relied on skills training and empowerment programmes to help beneficiaries develop businesses and other income-generating activities.
Despite the government’s reported spending on social interventions, poverty remains a major challenge in Nigeria.
The World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update estimated that about 139 million Nigerians still live in poverty, while food inflation and insecurity continue to affect the ability of many households to meet their basic needs.
The situation has kept attention on the effectiveness of government poverty reduction programmes and whether the interventions are reaching enough Nigerians to produce lasting improvements.
The latest figures from the humanitarian affairs ministry provide the government’s account of its spending and reach, but the wider poverty data point to the scale of the challenge still facing the country.
As the administration continues its economic reforms, the Federal Government is expected to maintain cash transfers, vocational training and other social programmes as part of its efforts to support vulnerable Nigerians and reduce poverty.
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