By Julius Peter
The Federal Government has unveiled a $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s social protection system and improving support for millions of vulnerable citizens across the country.
The programme was formally launched by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, at the Aso Villa Banquet Hall, Abuja, in what the Federal Government described as a major milestone in its efforts to transform the nation’s approach to humanitarian assistance and poverty reduction.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, who disclosed the development, said the initiative was designed to move the country’s social intervention system beyond fragmented and short-term assistance towards a coordinated, household-centred approach capable of building resilience and promoting self-reliance.
According to the minister, the launch also featured the Emergency Shock-Responsive Cash Transfer Programme, which targets 7.6 million vulnerable households across the country.
Other initiatives unveiled at the event included the One Humanitarian One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), the ministry’s Ministerial Blueprint and the Humanity First Magazine.
Doro said the new approach would fundamentally change the way the government measures the impact of social protection interventions.
He explained that rather than focusing primarily on the number of beneficiaries reached by government programmes, the new system would assess what actually happens to households after receiving assistance.
“Through OHOPRS, we are changing the fundamental question from ‘How many people received assistance?’ to ‘What happened to the household after we intervened?’” the minister stated.
He said the shift was necessary to ensure that government interventions produce measurable and sustainable improvements in the lives of vulnerable Nigerians.
The minister explained that the Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme was anchored on the broader objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the commitment to reducing poverty, strengthening social protection and creating pathways for vulnerable citizens to achieve greater economic stability.
He said the Federal Government’s objective was to end the practice of isolated and uncoordinated interventions by establishing a system in which humanitarian and poverty-reduction responses are better integrated.
According to him, the new framework is expected to promote a transition from emergency palliatives to sustainable pathways that can take vulnerable households towards resilience, self-reliance and prosperity.
The Emergency Shock-Responsive Cash Transfer Programme, which targets 7.6 million vulnerable households, is expected to provide support to families facing economic and humanitarian shocks, helping them cope with immediate challenges while creating opportunities for recovery.
The government’s emphasis on a shock-responsive mechanism reflects the need for social protection systems to respond quickly to households affected by sudden economic difficulties and other vulnerabilities.
The minister said the various programmes and frameworks launched were part of a broader effort to reposition the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction as a more coordinated, accountable and impact-driven institution.
He also emphasised the importance of collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, development partners, humanitarian organisations and other stakeholders in achieving the objectives of the programme.
Doro expressed appreciation to the First Lady for formally unveiling the $1 billion programme and acknowledged the contributions of state governments, development partners and other stakeholders towards strengthening Nigeria’s social protection architecture.
He described the launch as an important step in the country’s journey towards ensuring that vulnerable Nigerians are not left behind in the government’s development agenda.
The minister reiterated the administration’s commitment to building a social protection system that does not merely provide temporary relief but helps vulnerable citizens transition towards sustainable livelihoods and improved living standards.
He said the government’s ultimate objective was to ensure that interventions were properly coordinated, targeted and evaluated based on their actual outcomes at household level.
The OHOPRS framework is expected to play a central role in this process by providing a coordinated platform for humanitarian and poverty-response interventions, thereby reducing duplication, improving targeting and strengthening accountability.
The introduction of the system is also expected to enhance the government’s ability to understand the changing circumstances of vulnerable households and determine whether interventions are producing the desired results.
The minister said the initiative represented a renewed commitment to placing humanity at the centre of government’s poverty-reduction and humanitarian policies.
With the launch of the Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme, the Federal Government said it was seeking to establish a more comprehensive and coordinated social protection architecture capable of supporting vulnerable Nigerians while creating pathways out of poverty.
The administration has consequently reaffirmed its commitment to the principle of “Leaving No One Behind”, with the new initiatives expected to form part of efforts to build a more resilient and inclusive society.
