The Federal Government has intensified its poverty reduction drive under the Renewed Hope Agenda with the expansion of the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme (HoPE-CT), targeting 15 million vulnerable households nationwide.
Speaking at the HoPE-CT Implementation Briefing and Press Conference in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by Dr. Suleiman Haruna, described the initiative as one of the most far-reaching social intervention programmes of the current administration.
He revealed that the programme has already reached over 9.2 million beneficiaries, delivering critical financial support to households across the country.
The initiative is designed to further extend its reach to 15 million households, with 3.6 million families set to receive special uplift grants of ₦50,000 each.
According to the Minister, HoPE-CT represents more than a financial intervention, serving as a vehicle for restoring dignity and improving living conditions for vulnerable Nigerians.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction for its role in driving the programme’s implementation.
“The HoPE-CT programme is about restoring hope, expanding opportunities, and laying the foundation for inclusive prosperity,” he said, adding that the initiative reflects government’s responsiveness to the needs of citizens at the grassroots.
Idris also urged media practitioners to go beyond reporting figures by highlighting the real-life impact of government interventions, stressing the importance of human-centered storytelling in strengthening public trust.
He reaffirmed that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains focused on inclusive growth and social protection, with several complementary programmes already underway.
These include a restructured National Social Investment Programme offering interest-free loans of ₦300,000 to ₦400,000 for youth and women, a revamped N-Power scheme, and a student loan initiative that has approved over ₦95.6 billion for higher education support.
Other interventions highlighted include the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT), the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, all aimed at boosting livelihoods, skills development, and school enrollment.
Additionally, the Consumer Credit Scheme, backed by over ₦200 billion, is enabling Nigerians to acquire essential goods on credit, while the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative is easing transportation costs.
Livelihood Support Grants are also being extended to 600,000 micro-businesses, alongside the LUMINAH 2030 Initiative, which seeks to empower over one million women and girls through education and vocational training.
The Minister assured that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to enhance public awareness and ensure effective communication of government programmes.
He emphasized that ongoing feedback will guide improvements in implementation, reaffirming government’s commitment to building an inclusive society where no citizen is left behind.