The Federal Government has disbursed about ₦688 billion to over 9.2 million Nigerian households under its Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer (HOPE-CT) program, as part of efforts to cushion the impact of ongoing economic reforms on citizens.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, made this known on Monday during an implementation update and press conference held in Abuja.
According to the minister, the cash transfer initiative, which started in November 2023, has continued to expand across the country, reaching millions of vulnerable Nigerians who are struggling with rising living costs.
The HOPE-CT program is one of the Federal Government’s key social protection measures. It is designed to provide direct financial support to low-income households, helping them meet basic needs such as food, healthcare, and education.
The program is anchored on the National Social Register, a database of poor and vulnerable Nigerians. It is being implemented in collaboration with several agencies, including the National Identity Management Commission, the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, the National Cash Transfer Office, and the National Social Investment Program Agency.
Doro explained that each eligible household receives ₦75,000, paid in three tranches of ₦25,000 each.
“Under this intervention, eligible households receive ₦75,000 distributed over three tranches, helping families meet essential needs such as food, healthcare, and education,” he said.
He added that for many Nigerians, the amount provides much-needed relief in a difficult economic period marked by inflation and rising costs of living.
Providing a breakdown of the programs progress, the minister said that as of February 2026, a total of 9,178,837 households had received at least the first tranche of ₦25,000.
He noted that the second and third tranches are also being paid, with millions already covered.
“7,203,579 beneficiaries have received the second tranche, while 6,497,089 have received the third tranche. Disbursement is still ongoing across all states,” he said.
Doro assured Nigerians that the remaining beneficiaries are being processed and that every qualified household will receive the full payment.
The program, which runs from November 2023 to February 2026, is expected to continue expanding as more households are identified and verified.
One of the key highlights of the program is its strong focus on women. According to the minister, women make up the majority of beneficiaries.
Out of the 9.17 million households reached so far, 5,391,225 beneficiaries are women, representing 58.7 per cent, while 3,787,612 are men.
Doro said this focus is intentional, as women play a central role in family welfare and community stability.
“By empowering women through the HOPE Cash Transfer Program, we are supporting mothers, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who form the backbone of family resilience across Nigeria,” he said.
To improve transparency and accountability, the Federal Government has made identity verification a key part of the program.
The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) has strengthened the system.
She explained that identity verification ensures that only genuine beneficiaries receive the funds, while reducing fraud and duplication.
“Identity is more than just a number. It gives access to opportunity, social protection, and the full benefits of citizenship,” she said.
Coker-Odusote revealed that over 13.2 million records have been submitted for verification. Out of this number, 11.8 million have been successfully verified, while about 1.4 million failed the process.
She described the failed records not as a setback but as proof that the system is working.
“Every failed record has been carefully analyzed, and solutions have been provided. Additional records are still being processed,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by Dr Suleiman Haruna, said the program has brought relief to millions of Nigerians.
He noted that the initiative shows that the government is aware of the challenges facing citizens and is taking steps to address them.
“The program is about showing Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots, that their government sees and hears them and is working to improve their lives,” he said.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, said the initiative was designed to help vulnerable households cope with economic shocks.
He added that the use of digital payment systems has improved efficiency and reduced delays in disbursement.
The program is funded through an $800 million facility provided by the International Development Association of the World Bank.
According to the Program Manager of the National Cash Transfer Office, Abdullahi Alhassan, the number of beneficiaries has now been increased from an initial target of 10.4 million to 15 million Nigerians.
This expansion reflects the growing need for social support as more Nigerians face economic hardship.
The cash transfer program comes at a time when Nigeria is undergoing major economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. These reforms include the removal of fuel subsidies and changes in foreign exchange policies.
While the reforms are aimed at stabilising the economy in the long term, they have led to short-term hardship for many Nigerians, including higher prices of food, transport, and other basic goods.
As a result, government interventions like the HOPE-CT program have become critical in helping vulnerable households cope with the changes.
With over ₦688 billion already disbursed and millions of households reached, the HOPE-CT program is one of the largest social intervention efforts in Nigeria’s recent history.
However, questions remain about sustainability, coverage, and long-term impact, especially as more Nigerians fall into poverty.
For now, government officials say the focus remains on ensuring that all eligible households receive their payments and that the program continues to operate in a transparent and efficient manner.