FG disburses over N300bn to 8.1m households under cash transfer scheme

The Federal Government has disbursed more than ₦300 billion to 8.1 million households through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Sanunu, has disclosed.

Speaking on Monday during a roundtable event marking this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction in Abuja, Sanunu said the initiative, implemented through the National Social Investment Agency, has strengthened the resilience of communities across Nigeria.

“Under the Hope Agenda of Mr. President, over 8.1 million households have benefited from the conditional cash transfer programme, receiving over ₦300 billion.

“This support has significantly enhanced their health, education, and overall capacity,” he said.

Sanunu also announced plans to support 21,000 Nigerians affected by recent floods with interest-free loans totaling ₦6.3 billion.

Each beneficiary will receive over ₦300,000 to mitigate the impact of flooding on farming and livelihoods.

In addition, the Minister highlighted a new initiative aimed at empowering internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The programme allows IDPs to participate in agricultural production, with the government purchasing 70% of their produce while beneficiaries retain 30% of the proceeds as cash support.

Earlier, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, warned that Nigeria faces increasing disaster risks driven by climate change, conflicts, pandemics, and technological hazards. She emphasized the need to shift from reactive emergency responses to proactive disaster risk management supported by sustainable funding mechanisms.

Umar also launched two key policy frameworks: the NEMA Strategic Plan (2025–2029) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2025–2030), aimed at integrating disaster risk management across all sectors, including agriculture, energy, finance, health, and infrastructure.

She highlighted plans for a National Risk Monitoring and Information Platform to enable early warning, vulnerability mapping, and risk-informed investment decisions.

The roundtable was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, lawmakers, and international partners.