The federal government says it has disbursed N9.9 billion in direct cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households in Ondo state as part of its revamped social protection programme.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr Bernard Doro, stated this on Monday during a courtesy visit to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Akure.
Doro described the Household Prosperity and Cash Transfer Programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda as a major humanitarian intervention targeting vulnerable households across the country.
The minister said his visit to Ondo State formed part of a nationwide review of the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He explained that the programme had so far delivered N75,000 in three tranches to the poorest households across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with over nine million households benefiting.
Doro disclosed that Ondo State alone had received N9.9 billion under the intervention scheme through successive payment cycles covering the first, second and ongoing tranches.
He, however, expressed concern over low awareness of the programme among citizens, stressing the need for improved communication and transparency in social protection delivery.
The minister added that beneficiaries randomly selected across Ondo State would be engaged directly to confirm receipt of funds and provide feedback to guide future policy adjustments in the sector.
According to him, the Federal Government is already working on a redesigned social protection framework, noting that grassroots engagement remains critical to ensuring that future interventions reflect actual needs and realities.
Doro described the exercise as a data validation process aimed at strengthening accountability, improving targeting and enhancing the effectiveness of federal welfare programmes nationwide.
Speaking, Governor Aiyedatiwa called for stronger synergy between the federal government and sub-national governments in the implementation of social intervention programmes.
Aiyedatiwa noted that effective delivery of the scheme depends on collaboration between policymakers and structures closest to the people.
The governor disclosed that under the scheme, Ondo State alone had recorded 396,671 beneficiary households across the first, second and third tranches.
According to him, the scale of the programme made targeted engagement necessary rather than full household verification.
He noted that selected beneficiaries drawn from the 18 local government areas were being engaged to provide first-hand feedback on implementation and impact.
The governor also drew attention to challenges faced by some beneficiaries over National Identification Number (NIN) registration, advising relevant officials to intensify efforts in reaching affected persons, particularly those on the social register, to ensure proper data updates for seamless payment.
He commended the minister for adopting a field-based approach to programme assessment, saying direct engagement with beneficiaries would strengthen accountability and improve service delivery under federal intervention schemes.
