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- To prosecute racketeers, says scheme free
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Federal Government has warned against the sale of empowerment scheme slots, with a vow to prosecute culprits.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro stated this yesterday in Abuja at the implementation briefing on the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme (HoPE-CT).
Doro said the government would continue to work with security agencies to investigate and prosecute culprits.
He said: “Let me be unequivocal: this programme is completely free. No Nigerian should pay any money to be registered, enrolled, or benefit.
“Any individual demanding payment is engaging in criminal activity, and we are working closely with security agencies to investigate and prosecute such cases.
“To further strengthen accountability, we have established a multi-level grievance redress system supported by a toll-free helpline—969 on MTN.
“This ensures that beneficiaries can report concerns, seek clarification, and that every eligible Nigerian receives their rightful support.
“What we are building is bigger than a programme. We are laying the foundation for a nationally coordinated and interoperable social protection ecosystem where NSR serves as the single national registry for interventions, NCTO evolves into the national delivery platform for both cash and in-kind support, and livelihood and graduation pathways are embedded into programme design.”
The minister disclosed that eligible households have received ₦75,000 each over three months, enabling families to meet essential needs such as food, healthcare, and education.
He added: “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.
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“These are not just numbers. They represent millions of Nigerian households whose dignity is being restored, whose resilience is being strengthened, and whose hope is being renewed.
“This administration is committed to getting it righ t—not just getting it done. Every beneficiary is captured in the National Social Register, verified using NIN or BVN, and authenticated through digital systems.”
Also, NCTO National Programme Manager, Abdullahi Alhassan Imam, disclosed that scheme”is being funded through a loan of $800M from the IDA of the World – Bank to support 10.4 million Household of which to-date 9.2 Million have benefited at least one Trench of ₦25,000.”
He disclosed that the federal government has increased the number of the beneficiaries from 10.4 million to 15 million.
“To our development partner (World – Bank) and our colleagues in the implementation of the project especially National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) who provide the data of the beneficiaries for processing to the World – Bank for No objection through the Task Team Leader (TTL) for the payment, the Department of the International Economic Relation of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Project financial Management Department (FPFMD) of the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, we deeply appreciate and value your role in this project, your presence here is highly appreciated,” he added.
