By Salif Atojoko

The Tinubu Media Volunteers (TMV) has applauded the rise in the number of Nigerians benefitting from the Federal Government cash transfer programme.

The group highlighted a World Bank report that says the number of beneficiaries increased from 30.35 million in January 2024 to 32.21 million in January 2025.

This is contained in a statement by the TMV Chairman, Mr Chukwudi Enekwechi, on Friday in Abuja.

The group stated that the implication for the poverty alleviation programme of the Bola Tinubu administration was great.

“More poor and vulnerable Nigerians are now benefitting from the Federal Government’s cash transfer programme, thereby reducing poverty and ameliorating the adverse effects of fuel subsidy removal, rising costs of food items as well as inflation.

“In reality, the number of Nigerians who have benefitted from the programme between June 2024and January 2025 stands at 1.86 million beneficiaries.

“We note that these statistics emanate from a verifiable source as the World Bank Implementation Status and Result Report on the federal government’s cash transfer programme released on Jan. 29,” said TMV.

The group added that it was gratifying, from the available information, that women benefitted more from the programme, and expectedly, this impacted positively on poor households and the vulnerable groups in the country.

“We also acknowledge that as a way of ensuring transparency in the cash transfer programme, all transfers are digitally processed using the National Identification Numbers or Bank Verification Numbers.

“For us, this approach will go a long way to eliminating any element of fraud and abuse, thereby guaranteeing that the targeted beneficiaries are reached.

“We have no doubt that at the rate the programme is being implemented by the Federal Government, a threshold of about 56 million beneficiaries will be attained by December 2025,” it said.

The advocacy group added that the programme would continue to play a pivotal role as a social safety net towards reducing poverty in the country and improving the economic condition of the poor and vulnerable.

“We are convinced that the cash transfer programme will greatly reduce poverty in Nigeria and that its diligent implementation will serve as proof of the gradual realisation of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” said TMV. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma