ActionAid Nigeria through the support of the European Union has unveiled the EU Support for Strengthening Social Protection in Nigeria, (ESSPIN) project to improve social protection programmes in the country.

The 3-year project with an investment of about $2.5million will be implemented in 96 local government areas across Abia, Benue, Oyo, and Sokoto state. The project is expected to reach 126,000 people comprising of 69,301 women.

Speaking at the launch of the project yesterday in Abuja the Minister of Budget and National Planning Dr Atiku Bagudu stated that the objective of the initiative was to address existing gaps in the National Social Protection Register.

He added that the project also seek to consolidate lessons learned from earlier initiatives while strengthening community resilience by promoting efficient and responsive social protection network systems in selected pilot states.

The Minister who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Dr Sampson Ebimaro stated that the project is targeted at bridging the identified gaps in the Nigeria Social Protection Policy, saying “we want to identify the
performance gaps? What are the challenges? What do we need to do? ”

He added “From the sense of economic development, we cannot continue to do social protection forever. Nigeria should be moving to the era of development and investment. We can’t continue to do handout and humanitarian. Yes, the challenges will be there, but we can’t continue to remain there. We must leave that point to begin to emphasize on development and investment.”

He however commended the EU, ActionAid and other development partners for the initiative. He reiterated commitment of the Ministry in ensuring the successful and impactful delivery of the program.

The representative of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS Chioma Osuji in her remark mentioned that the project is part of the European Union’s $46 million support to Nigeria’s social protection system under the 2021–2027 Multi-Annual Indicative Programme.

She said “The $2.5 million project was signed in December and is expected to run for three years, from 2026 to 2028.
The project seeks to increase public trust and participation in the National Social Register process, promote improved inter-agency collaboration, and enhance the effectiveness and utilization of the National Social Register.”

The Country Director of ActionAid Dr Andrew Mamedu in his opening remarks stated that ActionAid will work with their local partners Okaha Women and Children Development Organisation (OWACDO) and the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) to implement the project at the community level.

He mentioned that the ESSPIN project has establish 16 Social Register Action Teams (SoRAT) who will serve as independent citizen oversight structures within the social protection system.

The ESSPIN project according to him pursues two goals, including rebuilding public trust in the National Social Register and strengthening the coordination and accountability systems that determine how it is used.