The Federal Government has disbursed about ₦493 billion to more than five million families across Nigeria as part of its ongoing social protection efforts.
Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja.
He explained that the funds were disbursed under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), although he did not specify the exact timeframe of the payments.
According to the minister, the ministry has a budget of over ₦500 billion under the service-wide vote for key intervention programmes, including the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer, N-Power training, and FarmerMoni.
“Already, over five million families — that is about 75 million individuals — have benefited through the Rapid Response Register. Over ₦493 billion has been disbursed,” he said.
Sununu said the disbursement was based on data from the National Social Register, which reflects the findings of Nigeria’s multidimensional poverty index.
He noted that the highest concentration of poor and vulnerable people is in the northern region, with about 65 percent, while the remaining 35 percent are in the South. He added that 70 percent of the poor live in rural areas.
“Therefore, 71 percent of the beneficiaries are in the North, and 29 percent are in the South. This is strictly based on the data,” he said.
₦300,000 for 21,000 Farmers
As part of efforts to cushion the impact of economic challenges on farmers, the minister announced that 21,000 smallholder farmers across the country would receive ₦300,000 each under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).
He said the loan will be interest-free, require no collateral, and will help farmers affected by flood and other environmental hazards.
Sununu also confirmed that the suspension placed on the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) account had been lifted, following a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The President has directed that the NSIPA account be reopened, and it has been reopened. Part of the funds for GEEP will come from there,” he said.
Grant for Vulnerable Groups Set to Begin
The minister also unveiled plans to roll out the Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) initiative. He said the ministry had contracted 53 companies to help update beneficiaries’ details, including NIN, BVN, and bank account numbers.
He noted that many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are already captured in the National Social Register and will benefit from the scheme.
Sununu reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and coordination in tackling poverty and humanitarian challenges.
He said a new National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has been approved by the Federal Executive Council to drive a national—not just federal—approach to tackling poverty.
“The President is committed to restoring the credibility of the ministry by entrenching transparency and accountability,” he added.
Meanwhile, the office of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation remains vacant following the recent election of Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who had replaced the suspended Dr. Betta Edu, as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
