The Federal Government has confirmed that it will begin sharing cash support to vulnerable households across the country within the next two weeks. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Tanko Sununu, explained that the initiative is part of efforts to cushion the hardship faced by millions of Nigerians.

According to the minister, about 2.2 million households are expected to benefit from the scheme. He assured citizens that the process will be carried out openly, stressing that transparency is a key priority for the government this time.

However, the announcement has already gotten reactions. While many struggling families welcome the news, civil society groups have raised concerns about accountability. Groups like HURIWA have called on the government to go beyond verbal assurances and publish clear details of how beneficiaries are selected and how the funds will be disbursed. They argue that without open records, the scheme could fall into the same trust problems that affected past interventions.

Cash transfers are not new in Nigeria. Since 2015, different governments have used similar programs to provide temporary relief for low-income families. But critics say the success of such initiatives depends largely on proper monitoring and fairness in distribution.