The Federal Government reported paying N658.9 billion in cash transfers to 10.46 million poor and vulnerable households by September 2026, according to the World Bank’s latest Nigeria Development Update.
The bank called for wider coverage, adequate payments and more consistent support, saying Nigeria should move from emergency interventions to a regular social protection system.
The figures appear in the report titled “Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Shaped State Priorities”, which Punch analysed on Sunday. They are government-reported disbursements cited by the bank, rather than a newly announced payment to each beneficiary.
The report said biometric and digital verification systems were used to identify beneficiaries and deliver payments. It said the effect of social assistance depends on how many households it reaches, the value of the support and whether transfers continue regularly.
It also recommended dedicated social protection budget lines at federal and state levels, gradually increasing financing from government resources and a shared framework for delivering sustained assistance.
Sources: Punch
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