FG confirms two million households for cash transfer

The Federal Government has commenced a revalidation exercise of the National Social Register as part of efforts to strengthen the ongoing conditional cash transfer programme aimed at cushioning the impact of economic reforms.

So far, a total of 2.3 million households have been confirmed and cleared for payment under the renewed scheme.

The Director General of the National Identity Management Commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, disclosed this at a recent press briefing held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

The revalidation exercise comes amid concerns raised by the World Bank over the slow implementation of the cash transfer programme, which was launched in 2023, following the removal of petrol subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange market

In its latest Nigeria Development Update report titled “Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth”, the global financial institution noted that only 37 per cent of the intended 15 million households, approximately 5.6 million had received payments two years after the programme was launched.

The World Bank had approved a $800m loan for the initiative, out of which $530m had been disbursed as of April 30, 2025.

The World Bank said, “Only 5.6 million households—around 37 per cent—have received at least one tranche of direct transfers. Further expansion of the programme remains dependent on biometrically verifying at least one adult member of the household with a foundational digital identity. Also, efforts to urgently provide support to the poorest and most economically at-risk households should be redoubled and expanded,” the bank noted.

However, Coker-Odusote, who is a member of the inter-agency task force overseeing the identity verification process for the programme, stated that the revalidation was being carried out under the National Social Safety Nets project to ensure that only eligible Nigerians benefit from the government’s palliative initiative.

“The Federal Government is currently conducting a revalidation exercise on the national social register under the National Social Safety Net, so that they are able to carry out the payment,” she said.