In a significant step toward social welfare reform, the Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully revalidated 2.3 million households under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program, ensuring that financial aid reaches those most in need.
The announcement was made by the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, during a press briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. The revalidation, conducted as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project, is a key part of the government’s strategy to cushion the effects of recent economic reforms on vulnerable populations.
“As of Tuesday, we have been able to revalidate 2.3 million persons and will soon be able to start making the necessary payments,” said Coker-Odusote. “Our job is to ensure the number of people validated, and we are doing that in conjunction with other agencies to make sure that the money goes to the right people.”
The revalidation exercise is centered around identity verification and data integrity, ensuring that the recipients are accurately identified and eligible. This step helps prevent fraud and duplication, making certain that public funds serve their intended purpose.
Coker-Odusote underscored the critical role of identity verification in achieving targeted social interventions.
“We don’t want to pay people who no longer exist in this world. So, the right thing must be done,” she emphasized. “It is the reason for identity—ensuring there is a verifiable source of truth and identity credentials that you can use to validate the identity of someone, and that person can also use it to authenticate who he or she says they are in real time.”
The Conditional Cash Transfer initiative is part of broader economic reform and poverty alleviation efforts in Nigeria, designed to provide a financial lifeline to the country’s most vulnerable citizens. With over 2 million households cleared for payment, the initiative is poised to deliver timely support where it's needed most.
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