The Federal Government has unveiled plans to distribute N75,000 cash transfers to approximately 70 million of Nigeria’s poorest citizens by 2025. This was disclosed by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise Television.
According to Prof. Yilwatda, the program aims to register 18.1 million households by January 2025 using the National Identity Number (NIN) system, with deployment across all 36 states. Each household, comprising an average of 4 to 5 individuals, will receive cash transfers under President Bola Tinubu’s directive to combat extreme poverty and enhance social inclusion.
“The president’s target is 15 million households, translating to about 70 million individuals receiving N75,000 each,” Yilwatda explained.
The program also seeks to enhance digital identity for low-income Nigerians by collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to expand NIN registrations. Currently, only 1.4 million individuals in the poorest category have NINs. Efforts are underway in states like Rivers, Kwara, Abuja, and Nasarawa to train personnel and deploy resources to accelerate registration.
Prof. Yilwatda highlighted the use of technology to ensure transparency and efficiency, adding that digital systems will reduce errors, improve tracking, and guarantee funds reach the most vulnerable populations.
President Bola Tinubu suspended all programs under the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs on January 12, 2024, over allegations of mismanagement, including issues with direct cash transfers. Earlier, on January 8, 2024, Betta Edu, the then-Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, was suspended for alleged misappropriation of funds within NSIPA.
This new initiative represents a fresh attempt to rebuild trust and create an accountable social safety net.
