- Over 9.2 million Nigerian households have benefited from the Federal Government’s Household Prosperity and Empowerment (HOPE) Cash Transfer Programme.
- Approximately N688bn has been disbursed over a two-year period to cushion the effects of recent macroeconomic reforms.
- Women make up 58.7% of the recipients, highlighting the program’s role in supporting female entrepreneurs and caregivers.
The Federal Government has distributed N688bn to 9.2 million households through the HOPE-CT initiative.
Eko Hot Blog reports that at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, March 30, 2026, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, revealed that the disbursements are part of a shock-response mechanism to help low-income families meet essential needs like food, healthcare, and education.
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Under the scheme, eligible households receive a total of N75,000, distributed in three equal tranches of N25,000.
Minister Doro noted that while 9.17 million households have received the first payment, over 7.2 million have moved on to the second, and approximately 6.5 million have completed the third.
The program, which spanned from late 2023 to February 2026, is funded through an $800m facility from the World Bank’s International Development Association.
Transparency remains a core component of the disbursement process. Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), explained that every beneficiary is verified using National Identification Numbers (NIN) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVN).
Out of 13.2 million records shared for verification, 11.8 million have been successfully cleared, ensuring that the funds reach the intended vulnerable citizens without leakage.
The government has also announced plans to expand the program’s reach.
According to Abdullahi Alhassan, the Programme Manager of the National Cash Transfer Office, the target number of beneficiaries has been reviewed upward from 10.4 million to 15 million Nigerians.
This expansion aims to deepen financial inclusion and provide a safety net for even more citizens struggling with the current economic climate.
