A recently released World Bank report has revealed that 32.2 million Nigerians are currently benefiting from the Federal Government’s cash transfer scheme under the National Social Safety Net Program-Scale Up (NASSP-SU) as of January 2025. The initiative, managed by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s social safety net system while providing much-needed financial relief to low-income households.
The report, made available to 9am News Nigeria, highlights the program’s progress and the impact of recent policy changes, verification measures, and digital payment enhancements. In January 2025, the total number of social safety net beneficiaries rose from 30.35 million in June 2024 to 32.21 million. Women make up the majority of beneficiaries, with 28.55 million female participants registered under the plan. There are now 5.39 million households receiving cash transfers under the Economic Shock Responsive Cash Transfer (ESR-CT) component, while 1.51 million recipients benefit from the Extended Regular Cash Transfer (ER-CT). Since March 2024, all financial transfers have been conducted digitally using verified National Identification Numbers (NIN) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), enhancing transparency and accountability.
To ensure transparency and accuracy, the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has conducted rigorous NIN verification processes. This measure ensures that all new recipients have a verified identity before receiving payments. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also been tasked with ensuring that only individuals with verified NINs or BVNs can access the cash transfer scheme. The government aims to expand the initiative, increasing the number of beneficiaries under a more secure and efficient distribution system.
Despite its success, the World Bank report rated the program’s implementation as “Moderately Satisfactory,” citing several challenges, including delays caused by policy adjustments and leadership transitions. The report also noted significant political and economic risks that could impact the program’s long-term sustainability. Furthermore, the absence of beneficiary feedback surveys makes it difficult to measure the full impact of the initiative.
The current administration has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the cash transfer program, as reiterated during the appointment of a new minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in October 2024. If the current pace of implementation is maintained, the World Bank estimates that 56 million Nigerians could benefit from cash transfers by December 2025. As Nigeria continues its fight against poverty, the FG cash transfer scheme remains a key initiative in providing economic support to vulnerable citizens, ensuring a stronger and more inclusive social safety net.
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