Nigeria’s government has launched a massive cash transfer scheme to help millions of citizens living in extreme poverty. The scheme is part of the National Social Investment Programme, which aims to improve the living standards and the economy of the country.
The scheme will provide N25,000 to 15 million households for three months as a social safety net intervention. The intervention is meant to cushion the impact of the recent fuel subsidy removal and to eradicate poverty across the country.
The cash transfer scheme has been reviewed and expanded to include pensioners, ex-servicemen, and other vulnerable groups who were not previously captured.
The government is also removing beneficiaries who have exited the poverty line or have died from the register. Only those with National Identification Numbers and Bank Verification Numbers will be eligible for the scheme.
The payments will be made directly by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the verified beneficiaries, without any intermediaries. The first batch of payments will begin next week for five million households. Some beneficiaries have already started receiving payment alerts.
The scheme was launched by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday in Abuja, in commemoration of the 2023 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. He presented some cheques to some beneficiaries at the Presidential Villa.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Rasheed Olanrewaju, and the National Communications Manager, National Social Investment Programme Agency, Jamaldeen Kabir, confirmed the details of the scheme in response to inquiries by Saturday PUNCH.
They stated that the scheme had been made credible and clean by introducing various controls, such as the NIN, BVN, in-person verification, and biometrics. They assured that the scheme would reach the intended beneficiaries and make a positive difference in their lives.
“We are using a verified expanded register that has pensioners and veterans, as well as other vulnerable persons who were not captured”, Rasheed Olanrewaju said.
Jamaldeen Kabir, the National Communications Manager for the National Social Investment Programme Agency, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the removal of beneficiaries who had outgrown the poverty line. Kabir stated, “What he (Olanrewaju) told you is very correct because the register is being expanded. First of all, it has to be verified so that those who are out of the poverty line will be removed from the old register.”
Regarding the timeline for cash transfers, Olanrewaju reported, “The cash transfer (scheme) has been launched, and once a household is verified, they get paid. The batches begin this month, next week to be precise; however, verified people have started receiving alerts.”
Kabir added, “Actually, when the program was launched at the Presidential Villa three days ago, some beneficiaries were presented with cheques. So, before this month ends, the beneficiaries in the first phase will receive theirs, and this phase caters to five million households. So, we are expecting those five million households to receive money in the months of October, November, and December.”
To enhance the credibility of the scheme, measures have been put in place to address potential issues, such as ghost recipients. Olanrewaju explained, “They may not be ghosts, but we have put in place many controls to make the process credible and clean. First, we looked for the NIN and BVN to match with in-person verification and biometrics. The process is from the CBN to the beneficiaries; there are no middlemen.”
When asked about the number of deceased recipients, Olanrewaju mentioned, “We have struck off many names following the verification. The final figure will be out in weeks; it may run into millions. Some are dead; some are no longer in that category (of the poor) and some could not be identified at locations given, so wait till we get the compilation ready.”
As for identity theft, Olanrewaju stated, “All these will be determined when the final report is out. For now, we will pay those fully verified, and the names will be pasted in communities. Fifteen million households amount to about 62 million individuals, with an average of five persons per household.”
The Federal Government’s commitment to eradicating poverty aligns with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing poverty reduction, food security, economic growth, and job creation. This multifaceted approach includes various strategies, such as conditional cash transfers and business grants, to uplift vulnerable populations and drive economic development.
To bolster transportation, the government is investing N100 billion in 3,000 units of 20-seater Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses. Additionally, there is a significant investment of N200 billion to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmland to enhance food security.
The ministry is also releasing 2,000 metric tonnes of grains from the strategic grains reserves to households across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. It is distributing 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizers and seedlings to support farmers dedicated to ensuring the nation’s food security.
Furthermore, N75 billion is being disbursed to support 100,000 small and medium enterprises and start-ups. The Renewed Hope Shelter Programme is designed to provide housing for the poor, refugees, and internally displaced persons, with a target of one million households.
The initiative extends to business grants and loans for vulnerable market women, farmers, and traders, with an aim to expand their businesses, benefiting two million recipients. This comprehensive approach draws on multiple ministries to tackle poverty from various angles.
Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, called for support from all stakeholders, including the private sector, development partners, and other nations, to help Nigeria in its quest to eliminate poverty. She emphasized, “The cardinal goal of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is to give the poor and vulnerable Nigerians a new breath of hope, which is also in line with the SDG target.”
In her view, the conditional cash transfer program offers a proven means to alleviate poverty, providing households with financial support to start micro and small enterprises, access basic healthcare and food, keep their children in school, and address immediate household needs.
With a transparent and traceable approach, the beneficiaries are drawn from across all states in the country, along with the Federal Capital Territory. This multi-sectoral effort aims to address the diverse dimensions of poverty throughout the nation.
In summary, the Federal Government’s revamped cash transfer program is a significant step towards eradicating poverty in Nigeria. By expanding the reach of the National Social Register, disqualifying those who have exited poverty, and implementing stringent verification measures, the government is taking bold strides to ensure that its social safety net intervention reaches those who need it most. Combined with a range of complementary measures, this comprehensive approach represents a critical move toward alleviating poverty and improving the lives of millions of Nigerians.
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