396,671 households benefited from FG cash transfer – Govt

The Ondo State Government has disclosed that no fewer than 396,671 households in the state benefited from the Federal Government’s cash transfer programme implemented under the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Programme.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa made the disclosure on Monday in Akure, the state capital, while receiving the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, during a courtesy visit.

According to a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, Aiyedatiwa said the intervention formed part of a broader social investment scheme that had impacted several states across the country.

The statement read, “The governor disclosed that the South-West region had benefited about N62 billion under the scheme, adding that Ondo State alone had recorded 396,671 beneficiary households across the first, second and third tranches.

“According to him, the scale of the programme made targeted engagement necessary rather than full household verification, noting that selected beneficiaries drawn from the 18 local government areas were being engaged to provide firsthand feedback on implementation and impact.

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“Governor Aiyedatiwa also drew attention to challenges faced by some beneficiaries over National Identification Number (NIN) registration, directing relevant officials to intensify efforts in reaching affected persons, particularly those on the social register, to ensure proper data updates for seamless payment.”

In his remarks, Doro said the visit formed part of a nationwide review of the cash transfer programme.

He explained that “the programme had so far delivered N75,000 in three tranches to the poorest households across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with over nine million households benefiting nationwide.”

Doro disclosed that “Ondo State alone had received about N9.9 billion under the intervention through successive payment cycles covering the first, second and ongoing tranches.”

He, however, expressed concern over low awareness of the programme despite its wide coverage, stressing the need for improved communication and transparency.

Doro added that randomly selected beneficiaries in Ondo would be engaged to confirm receipt of funds and provide feedback for policy adjustments.

According to him, the Federal Government is working on a redesigned social protection framework, with grassroots engagement central to aligning interventions with citizens’ needs.

He described the exercise as a data validation process aimed at strengthening accountability, improving targeting, and enhancing the effectiveness of welfare programmes nationwide.

The Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme (HoPE-CT), also referred to as the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer, is a key social protection initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Each eligible household was said to receive a total of ₦75,000 disbursed in three tranches of ₦25,000 each.