The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, has disclosed that Ondo State has received about ₦9.9 billion under the Federal Government’s Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme.
Doro made this known during a stakeholder engagement with beneficiaries held on Monday at St. David’s Primary School in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.
He explained that the initiative targets low-income and vulnerable households nationwide as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that over nine million households across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have benefited.
According to the minister, each beneficiary household receives ₦75,000 in three tranches, adding that Ondo alone recorded over ₦9.9 billion across the first three phases, covering 396,671 households.
Doro said the visit formed part of a nationwide validation exercise aimed at confirming that payments reach intended recipients and assessing the programme’s impact on citizens’ welfare.
He, however, expressed concern over low awareness of the initiative, stating that many eligible Nigerians are yet to fully understand or access its benefits. He called for improved communication and transparency to strengthen social protection delivery.
The minister added that randomly selected beneficiaries were contacted directly to verify receipt of funds and provide feedback to guide policy improvements.
Earlier, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa commended the Federal Government for the intervention, describing it as a lifeline for vulnerable households in the state.
He revealed that the South-West region has received about ₦62 billion under the programme and stressed the need for stronger collaboration between federal and state authorities for effective implementation.
Aiyedatiwa also highlighted challenges surrounding National Identification Number registration, urging relevant agencies to ensure proper capturing of residents in the social register to prevent delays in payments.