FG targets 75m Nigerians with N25,000 conditional cash transfer scheme 

The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled an ambitious plan to alleviate the economic challenges faced by vulnerable Nigerians. According to Channels Television, as part of the initiative, 15 million households—representing an estimated 75 million people—will receive ₦25,000 each month under a conditional cash transfer scheme, paid three times a year.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Nentawe Yilwatda, during an interview on “Channels Television’s The Morning Brief”. Yilwatda highlighted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to easing economic hardships for those most affected by the nation’s current economic realities.

“The president was specific about policies to cushion the challenges for people at the lower end of the economic pyramid,” Yilwatda explained. “The program targets 15 million households, assuming an average of five people per household, which translates to reaching 75 million Nigerians.”

According to Yilwatda, the program has already reached five million people. However, the Federal Government is working to sanitize the social register and align it with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) policy mandating digital identity for transparency and accountability.

“Currently, only about 1.4 million people in the social register have digital identities. Many of those we aim to reach are outside the formal banking system,” the minister revealed.

To ensure effective distribution, the program has prioritized women as household leaders. “We target women because they are more likely to care for children and other vulnerable family members,” Yilwatda said.

The minister assured that the government remains committed to expanding the program and addressing obstacles to achieving its goal of providing critical support to vulnerable Nigerians.