FG’s $1bn Poverty Programme Not Response to Opposition, Says TMSG

The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has dismissed claims that the Federal Government’s $1bn social protection programme was hastily introduced to counter opposition campaign promises.

The group described the Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme (HOPE-SP) as a carefully developed initiative aimed at moving vulnerable Nigerians from temporary relief to sustainable economic independence.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, TMSG said the government had worked on the programme for months before its recent unveiling.

The group said the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, and his team began developing the initiative after assuming office in November 2025.

It said a presidential directive also guided the process.

TMSG acknowledged that the programme emerged shortly after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar unveiled his economic recovery plan.

However, it argued that the timing did not prove that the government rushed the initiative to counter the opposition.

According to the group, HOPE-SP involves beneficiary tracking and impact measurement, making it too elaborate to have emerged within days.

TMSG also rejected suggestions by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the programme represented a response to Atiku’s proposal to restore fuel subsidy.

The group said President Bola Tinubu had consistently recognised the hardship caused by his economic reforms.

It added that the administration had repeatedly promised to protect vulnerable Nigerians from the effects of the reforms.

TMSG pointed to the government’s cash transfer programme, which it said had reached about 10 million vulnerable households over the past three years.

The group also cited concerns from the World Bank over gaps in Nigeria’s social protection system.

It said the bank had found that only 44 per cent of government-funded social protection schemes reached intended beneficiaries.

TMSG argued that the latest initiative therefore represents an attempt to strengthen existing interventions and improve their impact.

It linked HOPE-SP with a recently unveiled $3bn World Bank-backed programme, describing both initiatives as broader approaches to poverty reduction.

The group said HOPE-SP would go beyond cash transfers by supporting vulnerable households towards sustainable livelihoods.

Under the programme, beneficiary households would undergo monitoring to assess their progress.

TMSG said the system would also guide beneficiaries through a “poverty graduation pathway” towards economic inclusion and self-reliance.

The group expressed optimism that the programme could help tackle multidimensional poverty if state and local governments fully participate.

It called for subnational governments to key into the initiative and support a coordinated anti-poverty strategy across the country’s 8,809 wards.

TMSG also praised Nigerians for their patience and resilience amid the economic reforms.

It urged citizens to remain focused on the administration’s efforts while resisting what it described as misleading campaign claims ahead of the 2027 elections.