The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has announced that 5.5 million out of the 19.78 million vulnerable households listed in the verified National Social Register have so far benefitted from the government’s cash transfer programme. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, revealed this during the inauguration of the Act Naija Project National Steering Committee, a civil society platform created to strengthen social protection efforts in the country. The event took place on Tuesday in Abuja.
Dr Doro described the progress as one of the key steps in improving Nigeria’s social protection system and reaffirming the government’s commitment to reducing poverty under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He explained that the update was linked to ongoing social programmes such as the Conditional Cash Transfers, the Grant for Vulnerable Groups, N-Power and GEEP. He added that other initiatives include the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and the National Social Safety-Net Coordination.
According to him, microcredit schemes have also played a major role, supporting more than 5 million Nigerians across all 774 local government areas. He noted that the beneficiaries include many women and young people. The minister further stated that consultations to review and update the National Social Protection Policy were ongoing to reflect current realities and harmonise interventions across government bodies. He said zonal consultations had already been concluded in the South-West, North-Central, North-West and North-East, while those for the South-East and South-South would be completed before the end of November.
Dr Doro also highlighted the government’s efforts to expand opportunities for young Nigerians. He said the ministry recently wrapped up the Skill-2-Wealth Programme for unemployed youths across all six geopolitical zones. The training covered solar panel installation and maintenance, agriculture including greenhouse farming, and automobile technology in partnership with GAC Motors.
He added that the ministry was working closely with development partners to improve Nigeria’s shock-responsive and adaptive social protection systems. He revealed that a draft Shock Responsive Social Protection Standard Operating Procedure, developed in partnership with the World Food Programme, was undergoing stakeholder review. Once approved, the document will guide coordinated national responses to emergencies such as pandemics, climate shocks, displacement and other crises.
The minister said the government remained committed to building what he described as a coordinated, accountable and resilient social protection system that supports vulnerable citizens and strengthens regional cooperation across West Africa. He stated that the Act Naija Project aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda by focusing on empowering vulnerable households, ensuring transparency and achieving measurable impact.
He said, “This committee has a critical role in providing strategic guidance, harmonising efforts across government, civil society, donors and ensuring accountability and collaboration at all levels. I urge all members to serve with dedication, professionalism and integrity to improve lives and strengthen public trust.”
Speaking on behalf of the consortium partners of the Act Naija Project, the Executive Director of the African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, David Ugolor, said the inauguration marked an important milestone in the country’s social protection landscape. He noted, “We recognise that social protection remains a key instrument for breaking the cycle of poverty, promoting human dignity and fostering inclusive growth. However, its success depends on effective coordination among all stakeholders: government, civil society, private sector and development partners.”
Also, the Deputy Executive Director of ANEEJ, Leo Atakpu, presented a baseline study on social intervention programmes. He explained that the study assessed existing interventions, institutional capacity, coordination structures and coverage of vulnerable groups across six states and the Federal Capital Territory. The states involved were Borno, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Kogi, Ondo and Osun. According to him, all the states shared similar challenges, including limited disaggregated data, low public awareness and insufficient digital targeting systems. He said the newly inaugurated committee would help improve government efforts.
The steering committee members were selected from the six states assessed. The consortium of partners includes Bread for the World in Germany, New Initiative for Sustainable Development and ANEEJ.
