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Cash Transfer: FG Releases N24 Billion to 991,261 Households

The Federal Government has disbursed N24.78 billion under the National Cash Transfer Programme to support 991,261 poor households, part of its ongoing efforts to alleviate poverty in Nigeria. This initiative, led by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), has reached beneficiaries across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Badamasi Lawal, the NSIPA National Coordinator and CEO, stated that the disbursement aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that in August 2024, the government had previously allocated N3.83 billion to 153,038 households.
In September 2024, the agency distributed N20.96 billion among 838,223 households, with each beneficiary receiving N25,000 through their designated Financial Service Providers.
“The Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer is designed to cushion the economic shocks faced by the poorest and most vulnerable households,” the statement added. Lawal emphasized that the program aims not only to reduce poverty but also to improve household finances and encourage savings.
Additionally, the health benefits of the program are expected to enhance the beneficiaries’ access to health and nutritional services. Lawal mentioned that the emotional and social benefits include improved livelihoods, better interpersonal relationships, and increased family happiness.
The government also announced the disbursement of the second tranche of payments to approximately one million beneficiaries of its cash-based Social Investment Programme. Finance Minister Wale Edun disclosed this during a meeting with the Presidential Panel on the Social Investment Programme, though specific details about the beneficiaries and amounts were not provided.
The ministry highlighted key updates regarding the second payments to about a million verified recipients under the Direct Benefit Transfer programme. Edun advised the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office to partner with the National Identity Management Company for National Identification Number (NIN) enrollment to enhance the program’s outreach.
This directive will allow the office direct access to the database of all Nigerians registered on the National Identification Number platform. The minister also discussed strategies to improve communication about the program across Nigeria.
Edun emphasized the critical importance of identifying the most vulnerable individuals and ensuring they receive their benefits promptly and securely through digital means, reiterating President Tinubu’s commitment to delivering social investment programs efficiently and transparently.
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PANDEF Clarifies Visit To Tinubu, Knocks Wike Over Inflammatory Comments

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to retract his publicly disparaging remarks made recently against the socio-political body.
PANDEF described as regrerrable and embarrassing comments by Wike in the aftermath of the group’s visit to Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, even to the extent of insulting the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin.
Recall that the FCT minister had, on Thursday, during a media chat, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on”, while also calling the board of trustee members of the body “political merchants”.
In a statement signed by PANDEF Chairman on Saturday in Abuja, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, urged President Tinubu as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent.
Igali clarified that the meeting with the president provided a valuable platform to discuss pressing issues of national and regional importance. Adding that “PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region.”
His words: ^To set the record straight, PANDEF the foremost socio-political body representing the South-South regions, composed of some of Nigeria’s most distinguished personalities. The delegation to Mr. President included chairpersons of at least four of the six SouthSouth states’ traditional councils, senior traditional rulers of major ethnic groups, former governors, past presiding officers of the Senate, prominent entrepreneurs, academics, and high-ranking retired military officers.
“It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the Federal Government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing. This attitude perhaps explains his continued refusal of the Minister to engage with the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach.
“The Honourable Minister (Wike) characterized PANDEF as the worst organization ever” and accused its members of visiting the Presidential Villa merely to solicit financial favors. These statements are not only false but also unbecoming of a public official of his stature.
“PANDEF hereby calls upon Mr. President, as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers who were, after all, esteemed guests of the Commander-in-Chief. It is apt to remind that the Minister does not own the Niger-Delta and his errant conduct should not be condoned.
“Notwithstanding this regrettable development, PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region,” Igali stated.
On efforts to restore peace in River State, Igali restated PANDEF’s commitment for peace in the oil-rich State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which remains committed to resolving the Rivers State crisis,” Igali stated.
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