THE Federal Government has released over N11.58 billion for the implementation of the Renewed Hope Social Security Grant in Jigawa State, with 178,342 beneficiaries expected to benefit from the intervention across the state’s 27 local government areas.
The State Commissioner for Special Duties and Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Auwal Sankara, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the progress of the programme, saying the initiative was designed to provide financial support to vulnerable households while stimulating economic activities at the grassroots.
News Point Nigeria reports that the programme initially captured 254,413 less-privileged households in Jigawa before being streamlined to cover 178,342 beneficiaries across the state.
Sankara said implementation commenced in January 2026, with 126,639 households fully settled during the first phase of the programme.
He disclosed that the state is currently implementing the second phase, during which 25,300 payment cards are being distributed to registered beneficiaries, with the exercise expected to be completed before the end of August.
“In this second phase, the beneficiaries will receive a total grant of N1,997,500,000, in line with the programme’s guidelines,” the commissioner said.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu increased the grant from N10,000 per payment cycle to N25,000, citing the need to reflect prevailing economic realities and market conditions.
Sankara explained that the Renewed Hope Social Security Grant was not solely a humanitarian intervention but also an economic strategy aimed at improving the living conditions and nutrition security of vulnerable families while stimulating local economic activity.
“The main objective of the Renewed Hope Social Security Grant is to support less privileged families in improving their livelihood and nutrition security. It also aims to enhance the local micro-economy, as 99 per cent of the grant is projected to be spent at the local level,” he said.
The commissioner noted that injecting billions of naira directly into local communities would have a multiplier effect on economic activities, particularly through increased consumption and demand for locally produced goods and services.
“If you inject such an amount of money into the local economy, it will have multidimensional positive impacts on rural and national productivity, thereby supporting GDP growth,” he explained.
Sankara further argued that increased consumption could stimulate production, which would subsequently create employment opportunities and contribute to wealth creation and broader economic development.
“So this programme is not only humanitarian but also an economic strategy for egalitarian and sustainable development,” he stated.
The commissioner commended Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi for providing the necessary support and enabling environment for the successful implementation of the programme, saying feedback from beneficiaries indicated that the intervention was already making a positive difference in communities.
“Based on feedback and testimonials received from the community, the programme has already started making a difference by transforming families’ lives for the better,” Sankara said.
He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, Governor Namadi, members of the implementation team and other stakeholders for their contributions towards the success of the initiative.
The commissioner assured that the state government would continue to monitor the implementation of the programme and keep policymakers and the public informed about its progress to support proper assessment, accountability and future planning.