FG HAS PROVIDED CASH TRANSFERS TO OVER 34 MILLION VULNERABLE NIGERIANS — MINISTER. (PHOTO)

 FG has provided cash transfers to over 34 million vulnerable Nigerians — Minister

The Federal Government has so far provided conditional cash transfers to more than 34 million vulnerable Nigerians as part of its ongoing efforts to cushion the effects of economic hardship and reduce poverty across the country.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the figure on Thursday during the maiden edition of the National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction held in Calabar.

According to the minister, the intervention demonstrates the Federal Government’s firm commitment to lifting millions out of poverty through coordinated, inclusive, and data-driven humanitarian programmes.

He revealed that the government is targeting 50 million beneficiaries before the end of the year, describing social protection as a central pillar of the Tinubu administration’s poverty reduction strategy.

“The Federal Government has so far provided conditional cash transfers to over 34 million vulnerable Nigerians and is working to reach 50 million beneficiaries before the end of the year,” Dr Doro stated.

He explained that the newly established National Council was created to improve coordination and effectiveness of humanitarian interventions, noting that fragmented or isolated efforts cannot deliver sustainable impact.

The minister highlighted the theme for the 2026 council—“Beyond the National: Strengthening Sub-national and Multi-Stakeholders’ Synergy for a Unified Approach to Humanitarian Response and Poverty Reduction”—as a call for stronger collaboration among federal, state, and non-state actors.

“The maiden council is a clear statement that no single institution or level of government can resolve Nigeria’s humanitarian challenges alone. Only a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach can restore hope and improve livelihoods,” he added.

In his remarks, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Tanko Sununu, observed that shifting global dynamics have reshaped humanitarian response, making collective action and innovation more critical than ever.

During the council session, stakeholders submitted 99 memoranda. Of these, 37 were approved, 19 were merged, 25 were stepped down, while the rest received no recommendations.

One notable memorandum, presented by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), urged the Federal Government to establish a national framework for monitoring and evaluating humanitarian and poverty reduction interventions nationwide.

Executive Director of dRPC, Dr Judith-Ann Walker, argued that such a framework would standardize indicators, strengthen coordination between federal and subnational governments, and improve tracking of outcomes including beneficiary reach, service quality, and impact on vulnerable populations.

She pointed out that the current variation in interventions across states poses significant challenges to consistent monitoring and evaluation.

“At present, humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction interventions vary from state to state, presenting a challenge to coordinated and harmonised monitoring and evaluation of poverty reduction in Nigeria,” Dr Walker said. “The memo therefore challenged the federal government to create a framework that would provide a clear objective and indicators to track humanitarian outcomes, such as beneficiary reach, service quality, and impact on vulnerable groups in Nigeria.”

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, represented by his Deputy, Peter Odey, commended the Federal Government for convening the inaugural council in Calabar and pledged the state’s continued support for poverty reduction initiatives, particularly those targeting border communities and persons displaced by cross-border movements from Cameroon.