The number of Nigerians benefiting from the Federal Government’s cash transfer programme under the National Social Safety Net Program-Scale Up (NASSP-SU) has risen to 32.21 million as of January 2025, according to the latest World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report.
Released on January 29, 2025, the report indicates that the cash transfer initiative, aimed at supporting poor and vulnerable households, has continued to expand despite initial implementation delays, covering over 5 million households in the country.
The program, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, is designed to provide financial relief to low-income households while strengthening Nigeria’s social safety net system.
Key figures from the report
The report highlighted a targeted NIN registration drive undertaken by the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). This initiative aims to validate existing social register entries and ensure all new recipients have a verified identity before receiving payments.
To scale up cash transfers, NASSCO has been licensed as a front-end enrollment partner for NIN registrations. This effort is expected to increase the number of verified households in the direct benefit transfer programme, ensuring a more secure and efficient distribution process.
Additionally, the report notes that cash transfers since March 2024 have been strictly limited to recipients with verified NINs or BVNs, following a directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This move aims to prevent fraud and enhance the integrity of the programme.
The World Bank report maintained a “Moderately Satisfactory” rating for both the programme’s overall implementation and its progress toward achieving its objectives. Several challenges were identified, including:
Also, the report emphasized the importance of continued digital payment adoption, as 100% of beneficiaries now receive transfers through electronic channels backed by biometric identification.
Government commitment and future targets
Following the appointment of new ministers to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in October 2024, the government has renewed its commitment to expanding the programme.
The World Bank projects that the number of cash transfer beneficiaries could reach 56 million by December 2025 if implementation continues at the current pace.