The Federal Government has unveiled a $1 billion social protection programme aimed at helping vulnerable Nigerian households overcome poverty and achieve greater economic independence.

The Household Prosperity and Economic Social Protection Project, HOPE-SP, is designed to reform the delivery of social protection by moving beyond short-term palliatives towards sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The programme will bring different social protection interventions under a more coordinated framework, with greater emphasis on identifying vulnerable households and ensuring that assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries.

The government said HOPE-SP would also strengthen the use of digital systems for beneficiary identification, registration and the distribution of support.

The initiative seeks to create what the government describes as a pathway towards “poverty graduation”, enabling beneficiaries to gradually move from dependence on government assistance to economic self-reliance.

The launch comes amid continued pressure on millions of Nigerians from rising living costs, unemployment and declining purchasing power.

The government said the objective was therefore not merely to provide temporary relief, but to ensure that social interventions result in lasting improvements in household livelihoods.

The programme is expected to coordinate existing interventions, reduce duplication and improve the targeting of beneficiaries.

However, its success will depend largely on implementation, particularly the transparent selection of beneficiaries and effective accountability mechanisms.

The Federal Government said the $1 billion investment represents a shift in its approach to social protection, from emergency assistance towards a structured system designed to help vulnerable Nigerians build sustainable livelihoods.