The Federal Government has said it is strengthening coordination in its poverty reduction drive through the implementation of a unified and transparent response system aimed at ensuring support reaches vulnerable Nigerians.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, made this known during an engagement with beneficiaries of the HOPE Conditional Cash Transfer (HOPE-CT) programme in Uyo.
The minister explained that the initiative is part of the administration’s broader strategy under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to tackle poverty through targeted interventions.
According to him, the engagement was designed to evaluate the programme’s effectiveness and ensure that assistance is reaching intended beneficiaries while improving their standard of living.
“As a government, we need to be sure that the support is reaching the intended households and improving their livelihood,” Doro said, stressing the importance of accountability and community feedback in shaping policy.
He noted that the HOPE-CT programme has so far reached about 9.47 million households nationwide, although awareness remains a challenge in some areas.
Doro added that government interventions must go beyond policy formulation in offices and reflect the real experiences of citizens at the grassroots level.
The minister also commended President Tinubu for prioritising the welfare of Nigerians through sustained social investment programmes.
In his remarks, Governor Umo Eno lauded the Federal Government’s efforts, describing the poverty reduction initiatives as impactful and necessary for economic stability.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Emem Ibanga, the governor said such programmes were helping to improve the welfare of vulnerable groups and would contribute positively to national development.
A beneficiary, Philomena Asuquo from Uruan Local Government Area, said the cash transfer initiative had helped cushion the impact of the current economic hardship.
The HOPE-CT programme remains one of the flagship social intervention schemes of the Federal Government, aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihoods across the country.
