As of January 2025, 32.21 million Nigerians are benefiting from the Federal Government’s cash transfer program under the National Social Safety Net Program-Scale Up (NASSP-SU), according to the latest World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report.
Despite early implementation problems, the program is still growing and already serves over 5 million households nationwide, according to the report, which was published on January 29, 2025. Under the direction of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the program seeks to improve Nigeria’s social safety net system while giving low-income and vulnerable households financial assistance.
Key Findings from the Report
- The total number of social safety net beneficiaries increases from 30.35 million in June 2024 to 32.21 million in January 2025.
- Women make up a significant portion of the beneficiaries, with 28.55 million female recipients enrolled in the scheme.
- Households receiving cash transfers under the Economic Shock Responsive Cash Transfer (ESR-CT) component now total 5.39 million.
- Beneficiaries of the Extended Regular Cash Transfer (ER-CT) program reach 1.51 million.
Implementation and Expansion Efforts
The report highlights the government’s increased focus on digital payments and identity verification. Since March 2024, all cash transfers are processed electronically and linked to verified National Identification Numbers (NIN) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) to ensure transparency and prevent fraud.
The National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), undertakes a targeted NIN registration drive to validate beneficiaries and ensure all new recipients have verified identities before receiving payments. To further expand coverage, NASSCO now operates as a front-end enrollment partner for NIN registrations.
Challenges and Risks
The World Bank rates the program’s overall implementation and progress as “Moderately Satisfactory”, while also identifying key challenges:
- Implementation delays due to leadership transitions and policy adjustments.
- Political and macroeconomic risks that could impact the sustainability of the initiative.
- Lack of beneficiary satisfaction surveys, making it difficult to measure the program’s full impact.
Government Commitment and Future Projections
Following the appointment of new ministers in October 2024, the government reaffirms its commitment to expanding the cash transfer initiative. The World Bank projects that if implementation continues at the current pace, the number of beneficiaries could reach 56 million by December 2025.
What This Means for Nigerians
The rise in cash transfer beneficiaries highlights the Federal Government’s increasing efforts to provide financial relief to vulnerable Nigerians amid rising economic challenges. The shift to digital payments linked to verified NINs and BVNs strengthens transparency and accountability, ensuring funds reach the right recipients.
With 100% of payments now processed electronically, the program reduces fraud risks, minimizes leakages, and integrates more Nigerians into the formal financial system. However, the report warns that sustained funding, policy stability, and improved beneficiary feedback mechanisms remain crucial for the long-term success of the initiative.
Furthermore, the growth of digitally enabled payments offers financial service providers new prospects, encouraging further fintech innovation, the uptake of mobile money, and financial inclusion in Nigeria.
