The World Bank has urged the Federal Government to strengthen Nigeria’s cash transfer programme, calling for wider coverage, increased payments and regular disbursements to provide lasting relief to poor and vulnerable households.
The recommendation comes after the Federal Government reportedly disbursed ₦658.9bn to 10.46 million households as of September 2026 under its social protection initiative.
In its latest Nigeria Development Update, titled Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Shaped State Priorities, the bank acknowledged the government’s efforts to deliver financial assistance to vulnerable Nigerians but warned that the programme’s long-term effectiveness would depend on how consistently and adequately beneficiaries receive support.
The report noted that biometric identification and digital verification systems had been deployed to identify eligible households and facilitate payments.
However, the World Bank maintained that reaching millions of households would not be enough unless the government ensured that the assistance was sufficient to meet basic needs and delivered at predictable intervals.
It therefore called on the authorities to accelerate the expansion of the programme and improve the value and regularity of payments to help households cope with mounting economic pressures.
Beyond the immediate cash assistance, the bank stressed the need for Nigeria to establish a sustainable social protection framework that would provide long-term support rather than depend heavily on emergency interventions.
It recommended dedicated budgetary allocations at both federal and state levels, alongside a gradual increase in government funding and stronger coordination between the two tiers of government.
According to the bank, predictable funding and a shared policy direction would help ensure that vulnerable citizens receive consistent assistance, rather than relying on temporary relief measures introduced during periods of economic hardship.
The recommendation places renewed emphasis on the need to transform Nigeria’s cash transfer initiative from an emergency response into a dependable welfare programme capable of supporting low-income families over the long term.
While the reported ₦658.9bn disbursement represents a substantial financial commitment, the World Bank’s assessment suggests that the programme’s success should ultimately be measured by its reach, the adequacy of payments and the consistency of support received by beneficiaries.
