The World Bank has urged the Federal Government to expand and strengthen its cash transfer programme after it disbursed ₦658.9 billion to 10.46 million poor and vulnerable households as of September 2026.

The bank said the programme needed wider coverage, adequate payments and more consistent disbursements to improve its impact on households facing economic hardship.

The recommendation was contained in the October 2026 edition of the World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update, titled Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Shaped State Priorities.

According to the report, the Federal Government used biometric and digital verification systems to identify beneficiaries and facilitate payments under the direct cash transfer programme.

The World Bank acknowledged the reported disbursement but stressed that the programme’s effectiveness would depend on the number of households reached, the adequacy of the financial support and the regularity of payments.

It called for faster implementation and improvements in the reach, value and consistency of cash transfers to ensure that more vulnerable Nigerians benefit from the intervention.

The bank also urged the Federal Government to move beyond emergency assistance and establish a sustainable social protection system that provides regular support to poor households.

It recommended that both federal and state governments create dedicated budgetary allocations for social protection and gradually increase funding from their own revenue sources.

According to the report, a coordinated approach between the two levels of government would help ensure predictable payments and strengthen the delivery of social assistance.

The World Bank maintained that sustainable funding and consistent implementation would be essential to improving the programme’s contribution to household welfare.

It added that expanding coverage and ensuring adequate, regular payments would help make cash transfers a more effective tool for supporting vulnerable Nigerians amid economic pressures.