Cash Transfer Program Falters: Report Finds Only 36% of 15 Million Households Receiving Aid

The Federal Government’s highly-publicized Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, designed to cushion the economic shocks of the fuel subsidy removal, is falling well short of its target. A recent mid-year report by the global professional services firm PwC has revealed a stark reality: only 36% of the 15 million households targeted by the initiative have benefited from the aid.

The finding echoes a similar report from the World Bank, which in May, noted that just 5.6 million households—around 37%—had received at least one tranche of the direct transfers since the program’s launch in late 2023. The data paints a troubling picture of a well-intentioned program that is failing to deliver on its promise. According to PwC’s findings, the problem isn’t just a matter of slow rollout; it’s a systemic failure to reach those in need. Official figures show that while over 5 million households received an initial payment, fewer than 2.4 million received a second, and only a fraction progressed to a third.

Experts and analysts point to a number of key challenges hindering the program’s reach. One of the most significant is the government’s move to a new, more transparent system that requires beneficiaries to have a National Identity Number (NIN) for biometric verification. While this measure is meant to curb corruption and ensure the right people are being paid, it has inadvertently created a major logistical bottleneck, especially for vulnerable populations in rural areas who lack access to the necessary infrastructure for enrollment.

For a government that has made poverty reduction a central pillar of its agenda, these findings are a wake-up call. The vast majority of Nigeria’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens are not being reached by the very program designed to help them. Critics argue that a lack of an accurate and up-to-date National Social Register and poor coordination among government agencies are also to blame.

The government has acknowledged these challenges and has promised to scale up the program and address the logistical issues. But for the millions of Nigerians grappling with the dual blows of high inflation and unemployment, the promises of future payments offer little immediate relief. The report serves as a stark reminder that in the battle against poverty, good intentions are not enough; what is needed is an efficient, transparent, and resilient system that can put money into the hands of those who need it most.