Title: FG Disburses N688bn to 9.2 Million Nigerians Under Cash Transfer Scheme Date Published: 31 March 2026 Description: The Federal Government has disbursed a total of N688 billion to no fewer than 9.2 million Nigerians under its Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer (HOPE-CT) Programme, as part of efforts to cushion the impact of ongoing economic reforms.Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, disclosed this on Monday during an implementation update and press conference on the HOPE-CT initiative in Abuja.The programme, anchored on the National Social Register, is a key social protection intervention designed to support vulnerable households across the country. It is being implemented in partnership with agencies including the National Identity Management Commission, the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, the National Cash Transfer Office, and the National Social Investment Programme Agency.Doro explained that the initiative, introduced as a shock-response mechanism, provides N75,000 to eligible households in three tranches to help meet basic needs such as food, healthcare, and education.According to him, 9,178,837 households have received at least the first tranche of N25,000, while 7.2 million and 6.5 million beneficiaries have received the second and third tranches respectively. He added that disbursement, which began in November 2023, is expected to run through February 2026.The minister noted that all beneficiaries are verified through the National Social Register using either a National Identification Number or Bank Verification Number to ensure transparency and accountability.Providing a gender breakdown, Doro said women account for 58.7 per cent of beneficiaries, totalling over 5.3 million, while men make up 41.3 per cent.Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said identity verification has strengthened the credibility of the programme. She revealed that over 13.2 million records had been submitted for verification, out of which 11.8 million were successfully validated.Coker-Odusote described failed verifications as part of the system’s integrity, noting that affected records were being reviewed and corrected, with an additional 3.1 million records currently undergoing processing.Also speaking, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by Dr Suleiman Haruna, said the initiative has provided critical relief to millions of Nigerians and reflects the government’s commitment to improving citizens’ welfare.Similarly, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Yusuf Sununu, said the programme was designed to stabilise vulnerable households, enhance financial inclusion, and ensure efficient delivery of assistance through digital systems.Earlier, Programme Manager of the National Cash Transfer Office, Abdullahi Alhassan, disclosed that the initiative is funded through an $800 million facility from the International Development Association of the World Bank. He added that the number of beneficiaries has been increased from 10.4 million to 15 million vulnerable Nigerians. Attached Images: 4c7e169cb37bce99f4b44196739680913d541e8486ff107e07964d96a2d0e7cb.webp Attached Video: None