The Federal Government has said it is targeting 15 million vulnerable households under its Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme (HoPE-CT), as part of efforts to deepen poverty reduction and social inclusion across the country.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the HoPE-CT Implementation Briefing and Press Conference, noting that over 9.2 million beneficiaries have already been reached nationwide.

Represented by the Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Dr Suleiman Haruna, the minister described HoPE-CT as one of the most ambitious social intervention programmes of the Federal Government, designed to deliver direct support to millions of Nigerians.

He explained that the initiative includes special uplift grants of N50,000 to about 3.6 million households, aimed at cushioning economic hardship and improving living conditions.
According to him, the programme goes beyond numerical targets, serving as a tool to restore dignity and provide renewed hope for vulnerable citizens.

“The HoPE-CT programme is about restoring hope, expanding opportunities, and laying the foundation for inclusive prosperity. It demonstrates that the government is attentive to the needs of its citizens, especially those at the grassroots,” he said.

The minister commended the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, led by Dr Benard Doro, for what he described as its commitment to the successful implementation of the initiative.

He also charged the media to focus on the human impact of government programmes rather than just statistics, urging journalists to highlight real-life stories of beneficiaries.

Idris, however, further outlined other key social intervention initiatives of the Federal Government, including the restructured National Social Investment Programme, which now offers non-collateral, interest-free loans of between N300,000 and N400,000 to youths and women through cooperatives, alongside a revamped N-Power scheme.

Doro, on his part, said that the programme has recorded a significant impact since its rollout in December 2023, with millions of households receiving financial support across the country.

He said: “As of today, 9,178,837 beneficiaries have received the first tranche, 7,203,579 beneficiaries have received the second tranche, and 6,497,089 beneficiaries have received the third tranche,” noting that the figures represent millions of Nigerian households whose dignity is being restored and whose resilience is being strengthened.