President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that the northern region accounted for 78 percent of beneficiaries of the federal government’s social protection programme, which disbursed ₦330 billion to 8.1 million households nationwide.
Tinubu, represented by Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, made the disclosure on Monday at the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit (NNIIS) 2025 in Abuja.
On September 17, the federal government confirmed the direct cash transfers as part of its revamped social protection scheme for poor and vulnerable households.
“There have been direct benefit transfers where over ₦330 billion has been provided to our 8.1 million households. By this one tranche of the funds, 2.4 million households have received two, and 78% of the beneficiary households are in the north. And this is verifiable because each person is uniquely identified,” Tinubu said.
The president stressed that Nigeria’s long-term prosperity depends on unlocking the potential of the north’s mining, agriculture, and power sectors.
Highlighting recent reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, forex unification, and fiscal restructuring, Tinubu said the policies have created “record resources” for states and local governments while stabilising the economy.
According to him, Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.23% in Q2 2025, industrial growth doubled year-on-year, agriculture expanded, inflation dropped for five straight months to 20.12%, foreign reserves rose to $42 billion, and the naira stabilised.
“These results are not by chance. They are the outcome of deliberate policies to restore fiscal discipline, rebuild investor confidence and replace inefficiency with transparency,” he said.
The president emphasised that northern Nigeria holds the key to national economic transformation, given its vast arable land, mineral wealth, and industrial potential. He cited projects such as the Sokoto–Badagry highway, irrigation dams, and energy corridors as part of efforts to connect agro-industrial hubs to markets and ports.
“The future of Nigeria’s prosperity is inseparable from the future of northern Nigeria. The region is not just a part of the country; it is the engine of the country,” Tinubu said.
Themed “Unlocking Strategic Opportunities in Mining, Agriculture and Power,” the summit was convened by the Northern Elders Forum with participation from governors, ministers, private sector leaders, and development partners.
