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Nigeria social protection cash transfer programs

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-06 10:35 UTC → 2026-09-06 16:45 UTC · added removed

The Nigerian government has implemented large-scale cash transfer initiatives initiatives, such as the $1 billion Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project (HOPE-SP), to support vulnerable citizens following economic shocks like the removal of petrol subsidies. shocks. While Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, reported that over N600 billion has been disbursed to approximately 10 million households over a three-year period. This includes the launch of the $1 billion Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project (HOPE-SP), which aims to provide digital shock-response transfers to 7.6 million households. However, the Auditor-General for the Federation has raised households, significant accountability concerns regarding financial accountability. According to have emerged. The Auditor-General for the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses, auditors were unable to verify if flagged N33.75 billion in cash transfers intended for 3.29 million households across 35 states in 2023 reached legitimate beneficiaries. The report noted that payment vouchers lacked complete information and could not be verified. Auditors noted that attempts to the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) obstructed the process by denying access to Remita statements required necessary to reconcile disbursements with national registers were “obstructed registers. Beyond the unverified transfers, the report highlighted N36.744 billion in payments made without mandatory prepayment audits and denied by NCTO accounts staff.” N4.616 billion in unsupported expenditures. In response to these findings, African Democratic Congress (ADC) human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and recover diverted funds. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has also urged President Bola Tinubu to order a full probe, claiming discrepancies involve over ₦78.8 billion across various humanitarian agencies. Additionally, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has vowed to launch an independent investigation involving financial, audit, and technology experts. Abubakar criticized the Bola Tinubu administration, describing the N33.75 billion disbursement—averaging approximately N10,258 per household—as “insultingly small” in the context of investigation, criticizing the rising cost of living. He also commended Auditor-General Shaakaa Chira administration for fulfilling constitutional duties despite political pressures. failing to account for funds meant to cushion economic hardship.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-06 16:45 UTC Nigeria social protection cash transfer programs
  2. 2026-09-06 10:35 UTC Nigeria social protection cash transfer programs
  3. 2026-09-05 05:36 UTC Nigeria social protection cash transfer programs

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