W’Bank: FG pays N658.9bn to 10.46m poor households

The World Bank has commended the Federal Government of Nigeria for disbursing N658.9 billion in direct cash transfers to 10.46 million poor and vulnerable households as of September 2026. However, the bank has urged the authorities to strengthen the programme by expanding its coverage, ensuring adequate payments, and maintaining consistent disbursements.

The World Bank's latest Nigeria Development Update, titled 'Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Shaped State Priorities,' highlighted the importance of building a sustainable social protection system to provide regular support to vulnerable Nigerians, rather than relying primarily on emergency interventions. The report emphasized that while the biometric and digital verification systems used for beneficiary identification and payment delivery were effective, the programme's impact would depend on the number of people reached, the adequacy of the assistance, and the regularity of payments.

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