The Federal Government says its direct benefit transfer programme is on track to lift millions out of poverty, but recent data shows the pace may not be fast enough to meet its own December 2025 target.
According to the latest dashboard from the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), only 8.1 million households had received cash transfers by August 2025, representing 54 percent of the 15 million households the government promised to cover. This leaves 46 percent of the target still unreached with just four months to go.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has consistently emphasised poverty reduction as a policy priority. Recently, Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, said the government had pulled 10 million Nigerians out of multidimensional poverty through its programmes and ongoing investments in infrastructure. But the NSIP data paints a more complex picture: of the 8.1 million households paid, only 41 per cent have received a second or third tranche. The majority remain stuck on the first tranche, suggesting that for many, the intervention is far from sustainable.
Part of the challenge lies in verification. The dashboard notes that while 2.2 million new households were added between June and August due to successful BVN and NIN validation, delays in enrollment continue to slow disbursement. This bottleneck has left millions of vulnerable Nigerians waiting for promised funds, despite the country already having one of Africa’s largest national ID databases.
The stakes are high. Nigeria’s poverty rate remains among the highest globally, and with inflation eroding household incomes, social transfers are one of the few buffers for the poor. But experts warn that without improved efficiency and transparency, the current pace may undermine both the government’s credibility and its broader poverty reduction agenda.
For the government, the clock is ticking. Meeting the 15 million household target by December will require accelerating enrollment, cutting through verification delays, and ensuring beneficiaries receive their full tranches on time. Anything less risks widening the gap between official claims and the lived realities of ordinary Nigerians.
