The World Bank has reported that Nigeria's cash-based social intervention programmes reached 67.19 million people and 10.44 million households by August 2026. This achievement exceeds the programme's June 2027 closing target of 56 million. The National Social Safety Net Programme-Scale Up has made significant progress, with 10.43 million poor and vulnerable households receiving economic shock-responsive cash transfers.
According to the World Bank's Implementation Status and Results Report, 7.1 million households received all three tranches of the transfer after undergoing biometric verification using their National Identification Numbers (NINs) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs). The report highlights that 15.8 million NINs were verified, and 10.95 million households were integrated into the payment system.
The World Bank revised its $800 million IDA facility to $776.42 million to support the programme. The report also shows that women accounted for 39.77 million of those covered, while 12.32 million were youths. Furthermore, 57.6 per cent of primary beneficiaries were women, above the programme's 45 per cent target.
Despite the programme's achievements, concerns over transparency and beneficiary verification persist. The Auditor General for the Federation's office questioned the documentation supporting N33.751 billion in electronic transfers to 3,295,207 households and beneficiaries across 35 states in 2023. The audit report highlighted that payment vouchers lacked full beneficiary details.
Opposition parties and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have raised issues over the programme's transparency. Atiku questioned the difference between the presidency's 15-million-household figure and the government's later statement that more than 10 million households received cash transfers. He also requested a verifiable trail showing the households paid.
President Bola Tinubu suspended Betta Edu after reports emerged that she authorised the transfer of N585 million to a private account for payments to vulnerable groups. The incident raised concerns about the programme's management and transparency. The World Bank's report provides a fresh set of figures on the programme's reach.
The programme's impact is significant, with 81 per cent of primary beneficiaries being women. However, the concerns over transparency and verification must be addressed to ensure the programme's effectiveness and credibility. The World Bank's report provides valuable insights into the programme's achievements and challenges.
Key points
- 67.19 million Nigerians and 10.44 million households received cash transfers by August 2026.
- Concerns over transparency and beneficiary verification persist despite programme achievements.
- Women accounted for 57.6 per cent of primary beneficiaries, above the programme's 45 per cent target.
