Many Nigerians have protested a claim by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro that no fewer than 9.2 million Nigerians have benefited from the Federal Government’s Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme.Doro had explained that approximately ₦688bn had been disbursed to beneficiaries within two years.
He disclosed this on Monday at the HOPE-CT implementation update and press conference in Abuja.
The cash transfer scheme, anchored on the National Social Register, is one of the Federal Government’s key social protection interventions aimed at cushioning the effects of recent economic reforms on vulnerable households.
The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission, the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, the National Cash Transfer Office, and the National Social Investment Programme Agency.
In his presentation, Doro said the HOPE-CT initiative was introduced as a shock-response mechanism to support low-income Nigerians amid ongoing macroeconomic adjustments, adding that beneficiaries received ₦75,000 in three tranches.
He said, “Under this intervention, eligible households receive ₦75,000 distributed over three tranches, helping families meet essential needs such as food, healthcare, and ededucation. If you ask me, N75,000 is indeed a lot of money to Nigerians, and there are many things they could do with it.
“As of today, 9,178,837 beneficiary households across Nigeria have received at least the first tranche of ₦25,000, demonstrating the scale and reach of this programme.
“The second and third tranches are progressing steadily. 7,203,579 beneficiaries have received the second tranche, and 6,497,089 have received the third, with disbursement continuing to roll out across all states. The remaining beneficiaries within these tranches are actively being processed, and every eligible household will receive their full entitlement.”
On the duration it takes to reach the entire 9.2 million households, the minister explained that the intervention spanned from November 2023 to February 2026.
He added that all beneficiaries must be captured in the National Social Register and verified using either a National Identification Number or Bank Verification Number to ensure transparency.
“Out of the 9.17 million beneficiaries reached so far, 5,391,225 are women, representing 58.7 per cent of all beneficiaries, while 3,787,612 are men, representing 41.3 per cent.
“By empowering women through the HoPE Cash Transfer Programme, we are supporting mothers, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who form the backbone of family resilience across Nigeria,” he stated.Reacting, however, many Nigerians said they had not received any cash transfer from the Federal Government since the inception of the initiative.
According to a bricklayer in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, Lukman, governments are known with issuing “fake figures just for propaganda.”
“I live in Osogbo and I can confirm to you that no one has been paid a dime as it regards this cash transfer. These figures by the Minister are fake and it is the normal propaganda by governments,” he told THE POINT.
Another Nigerian, Benedict Ukandu wondered, “Who are these Nigerian homes receiving these funds? I have every right to also benefit from this empowerment programme because I am battling poverty but nothing has come forth.
“So, I don’t think this claim by the Minister is true,” a Lagos resident argued.
