Federal Government Sets Aside Billions for Conditional Cash Transfer
The Federal Government has confirmed that it will release N54.850 billion to support millions of struggling Nigerians through the conditional cash transfer programme. The initiative will benefit 2.191 million people across the country, especially those affected by poverty, disasters, and rising food costs. The announcement was made in Abuja by the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, while inaugurating the Ad-hoc Committee on Flood Management and Response.
The Minister explained that this payment is part of the National Social Investment Programme, designed to cushion the effects of hardship on poor households, farmers, and flood victims. He added that the government’s goal is not only to provide money but also to restore hope among families who have lost their livelihoods.
Conditional Cash Transfer and Poverty Reduction Goals
The new N54.850 billion disbursement follows earlier interventions where over N419 billion was distributed to more than 5.9 million households, reaching nearly 75 million Nigerians. According to Dr. Sununu, this round of payment will directly support vulnerable families, improve food access, reduce malnutrition, and strengthen children’s education.
The Federal Government is working with the World Bank, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and the cash transfer office to ensure a transparent and accountable process. Beneficiaries are expected to start receiving payments in the coming days, with strict monitoring to prevent fraud and ensure funds reach the right people.
The Minister stressed that the cash transfer programme is one of the fastest ways to reduce poverty, especially in rural communities where families depend on small-scale farming.
Food Insecurity and Humanitarian Challenges Facing Nigeria
Nigeria continues to face serious humanitarian and food crises. Dr. Sununu revealed that global aid shortfalls of over $36 billion have left millions of Nigerians without external support. The suspension of the World Food Programme alone has cut off food assistance for about 1.2 million people.
In the North East, more than 300,000 children are at risk of severe malnutrition, while 200,000 others are already receiving treatment. Flooding has displaced over three million Nigerians, most of them farmers who lost their farmlands and harvests. Poverty levels remain highest in the northern states, where about 65 percent of the population live below the poverty line and more than 70 percent depend on farming.
Soft Loans for Farmers and Food Security Push
Alongside the conditional cash transfers, the Federal Government has announced soft loans for farmers through the Government Enterprises and Empowerment Programme. About 21,000 smallholder farmers will receive N300,000 each in loans that are interest-free and collateral-free.
This support is expected to help farmers restart their businesses, rebuild farmlands destroyed by floods, and expand food production. The government believes this step will not only improve food security but also reduce reliance on foreign aid.
National Assembly Pushes for Flood Management Solutions
At the event, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Majority Leader Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, urged the Ad-hoc Committee to treat flooding as a national emergency. He called for scientific data, expert knowledge, and inter-agency collaboration to design lasting solutions.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Maidala Balami, described flooding as a national disaster that requires a comprehensive framework, including prevention, early warning systems, community resilience, and better infrastructure. He assured Nigerians that the committee would work with urgency and transparency to bring practical solutions to flood disasters.