FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DISBURSES N658.9BILLION TO 10.46MILLION POOR HOUSEHOLDS
The Federal Government has reportedly paid ₦658.9bn in direct cash transfers to 10.46 million poor and vulnerable households as of September 2026, but the World Bank has called for improvements to ensure the programme provides more effective and sustained relief.
The recommendation was contained in the bank’s latest Nigeria Development Update, titled ‘Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Shaped State Priorities’, which examined economic conditions and measures to cushion Nigerians against financial hardship.
According to the report, the government deployed biometric and digital verification systems to identify eligible beneficiaries and facilitate payments under the cash transfer programme.
While acknowledging the reported disbursement, the World Bank stressed that the programme’s impact would depend on reaching more households, providing sufficient financial assistance and ensuring payments are made consistently.
“Social protection and service delivery can help cushion households against these pressures, though their effectiveness will continue to depend on coverage, adequacy, and continuity,” the report stated.
The bank urged the authorities to accelerate efforts to expand the programme, improve the value of payments and ensure regular disbursements to strengthen its contribution to household welfare.
It also called on the Federal Government and state governments to establish a sustainable funding structure for social protection, warning against continued dependence on emergency interventions.
“Building on this progress, the next step is to move from an emergency response toward a regular, sustainable social protection system, with dedicated budget lines at the federal and state levels, gradually increasing financing from government resources, and a shared overarching vision,” the report added.
According to the World Bank, predictable funding and coordinated action by both levels of government would help ensure vulnerable Nigerians receive consistent assistance rather than relying on temporary relief measures.
