The Federal Government has commenced a revalidation exercise of the National Social Register as part of efforts to strengthen the ongoing conditional cash transfer programme aimed at cushioning the impact of economic reforms on vulnerable Nigerians.
So far, 2.3 million households have been verified and cleared for payment under the revamped scheme.
This was disclosed by the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, during a press briefing held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The revalidation comes amid growing concerns from the World Bank over the slow implementation of the programme, which was introduced in 2023 following the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of Nigeria’s exchange rate system.
In its latest Nigeria Development Update report titled “Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth”, the World Bank revealed that only 5.6 million households—about 37 percent of the targeted 15 million—had received at least one tranche of direct cash transfers, nearly two years after the initiative began.
The World Bank had approved an $800 million loan to support the project, of which $530 million had been disbursed as of April 30, 2025. It stressed the need for accelerated delivery of support to the poorest households, noting that further expansion of the programme is contingent upon biometric verification of at least one adult in each household using a foundational digital identity.
Coker-Odusote, who is also a member of the inter-agency task force overseeing the verification process, said the revalidation was being conducted under the National Social Safety Nets project to ensure that only eligible Nigerians benefit from the palliative initiative.
“The Federal Government is currently conducting a revalidation exercise on the National Social Register under the National Social Safety Net, so that the process of disbursing payments can begin,” she said.
“As of Tuesday, we have successfully revalidated 2.3 million persons. Our mandate is to ensure the proper verification of beneficiaries, and we are working in collaboration with other relevant agencies to make sure the money reaches the right people.”
She emphasized the importance of a robust identity verification process in delivering effective social interventions and preventing fraud.
“We don’t want to pay people who no longer exist. That’s why identity is crucial. It provides a verifiable source of truth and digital credentials that allow us to authenticate individuals in real time,” Coker-Odusote added.
She noted that the exercise is being carried out with strict oversight to ensure accountability and accuracy in targeting the most economically vulnerable Nigerians.
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