Nigeria Launches N140 Billion Social Protection Program

On [date not specified], the Nigerian federal government unveiled a N140 billion social protection program named the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project (HOPE-SP) at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja. This initiative aims to address poverty by transitioning vulnerable Nigerians from temporary assistance to sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment.

Dr. Bernard Doro, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, stated that the new initiatives represent a shift from reactive palliatives to proactive empowerment strategies. The program is part of a broader framework that includes four additional initiatives: One-Humanitarian-One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), Emergency Cash Transfer Programme, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Ministerial Blueprint, and Humanity First Magazine.

Doro emphasized the need for a unified approach to social intervention, addressing fragmentation and duplication in existing programs. The new strategy will focus on assessing household needs and providing targeted interventions, supported by unified data and collaboration among various government levels and partners.