The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disbursed about ₦9.9 billion in direct cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households in Ondo State as part of its expanded social protection programme.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, disclosed this during a working visit to Akure, where he met with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as part of a nationwide assessment of ongoing intervention programmes.
He explained that the initiative, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, is aimed at improving the welfare of low-income households through direct financial support. Beneficiaries under the Household Prosperity and Cash Transfer Programme receive ₦75,000 in three instalments, with more than nine million households already covered nationwide.
According to the minister, Ondo State has received approximately ₦9.9 billion across multiple payment phases, including the ongoing disbursement cycle.
He noted that the programme demonstrates the government’s commitment to reducing poverty through targeted and verifiable support. However, he raised concerns about low awareness among beneficiaries, stressing the need for improved communication and stronger grassroots engagement to ensure wider access and understanding.
The federal government is also conducting beneficiary verification and feedback collection across states to confirm payments and improve future implementation. The exercise doubles as a data validation process to strengthen transparency, accountability, and accurate targeting.
In his remarks, Governor Aiyedatiwa revealed that about 396,671 households in the state have benefited so far. He described the programme as impactful, especially in easing economic challenges at the grassroots, while noting that verification efforts should remain targeted rather than attempting to track every household.
He also called for improvements in National Identification Number registration processes to enhance accessibility and inclusiveness.
The governor reaffirmed the state’s commitment to partnering with the federal government to ensure the effective delivery of social intervention programmes.
At a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibule, the minister added that work is ongoing on a redesigned social protection framework, with emphasis on grassroots engagement to ensure future interventions align with the actual needs of citizens.
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