The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing poverty and improving the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians. It said efforts are ongoing to build a social protection system that restores dignity, creates opportunities and strengthens resilience among citizens facing economic hardship.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, stated this during a stakeholders’ engagement with beneficiaries of the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer (HOPE-CT) Programme in Imo State. He praised President Bola Tinubu for sustaining support for vulnerable Nigerians and expanding opportunities for economic participation.
The minister disclosed that 278,727 households across the 27 local government areas of Imo State had benefited from the programme. He said a total of N6.64 billion had been disbursed to support vulnerable families under the initiative.
According to him, the figures represent more than statistical records. He said they reflect families that received support during difficult times, women empowered to improve household incomes, young people pursuing economic opportunities and children whose educational needs were met.
Doro also commended Hope Uzodinma for his leadership and commitment to the development of the state. He said the governor had continued to invest in infrastructure, economic empowerment and social programmes that directly impact vulnerable households.
Doro said his visit to the state was aimed at hearing directly from beneficiaries and assessing the programme’s impact. He stressed that the engagement was not simply about reviewing figures but understanding how government interventions were changing lives and helping households overcome poverty.
He noted that the exercise aligns with the Federal Government’s vision of creating a unified humanitarian and poverty reduction framework. According to him, the goal is to ensure better coordination of interventions, efficient use of resources and clear pathways that help beneficiaries move from vulnerability to self-reliance.
“Our goal is not merely to provide assistance but to create opportunities that enable individuals and households to progressively move out of poverty,” the minister said.
In his remarks, the Imo State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Chief Kennet Okafor, commended President Tinubu for his commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda. He said the administration’s policies were bringing relief, dignity and renewed confidence to millions of Nigerians.
Okafor confirmed that more than 278,000 households across Imo State had received support through the programme. He said the intervention had strengthened small businesses, improved household welfare, enhanced food security, supported educational needs and stimulated economic activities at the grassroots level.
The commissioner urged beneficiaries to remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to fraudsters. He warned that no individual should demand money in exchange for access to programme benefits and encouraged beneficiaries to report any form of exploitation or misinformation.
He described the HOPE-CT Programme as more than a financial intervention. According to him, it reflects responsive governance and demonstrates the government’s commitment to building an inclusive society where no citizen is left behind.
Also, Chairman of Orsu Local Government Area, Ibekaeme Friday Umunakwe, who represented the state chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), commended the Federal Government for the initiative. He called for the continuation of the programme and appealed for its expansion to more communities, including Orsu Local Government Area.