The Federal Government says it has disbursed more than N600 billion in cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians since President Bola Tinubu assumed office three years ago.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, disclosed this on Wednesday during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.

Doro said the intervention was targeted at poor and vulnerable households as part of the government's efforts to cushion economic hardship and improve living conditions.

According to the minister, the cash-transfer scheme has so far reached slightly more than 10 million households, potentially benefiting about 40 million people, based on an average household size of four.

“We have done over N600 billion in cash transfers to be able to support vulnerable Nigerians within three years,” Doro said.

He also revealed that the government had recently launched a vocational skills initiative under which more than 18,000 Nigerians had been trained and provided with starter kits and stipends.

The beneficiaries, he added, received additional training in business management and accounting to help them establish and sustain businesses.

Doro said the Federal Government was equally supporting farmers through another intervention aimed at strengthening livelihoods, increasing household income and reducing poverty.

Defending the value of the cash transfers, the minister argued that amounts that might appear insignificant to wealthy Nigerians could have a considerable impact on people living in extreme poverty.

“N25,000 can look very small to elites, but not to the poorest of the poor,” he said.

Doro said his ministry was focused on ensuring that gains recorded at the macroeconomic level translated into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

“My job is to translate macroeconomic gains as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. I translate the microeconomic gains to the micro level, and you can see the traction,” he said.

On food security, the minister said the government was monitoring the situation in northern Nigeria amid projections that more than 70 million people in nine conflict-affected states could face acute food insecurity.

He clarified, however, that the figure was a projection and did not mean all those identified would necessarily experience food insecurity.

Doro said the government had also introduced a presidential food and nutrition intervention covering 10 northern states, adding that authorities would continue to monitor developments and provide assistance where necessary.