15 Million Nigerians to access cash relief, Minister Wale Edun says

Nigeria’s economy is undergoing a bold transformation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with sweeping reforms aimed at restoring stability, boosting investment, and delivering real relief to citizens.

Speaking at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference in Abuja, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, emphasized that the administration’s economic reforms are designed not just for statistics but for the everyday Nigerian.

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Edun highlighted the direct cash transfer programme targeting 15 million households, the largest social protection scheme ever in Nigeria. Every beneficiary, he stressed, is verified through their National Identity Number (NIN) to ensure funds reach real people and not ghost accounts.

To eliminate corruption and bureaucracy, the government is using digital payments through bank accounts and mobile wallets, allowing real-time monitoring by oversight bodies, development partners, and even citizens. Edun added that data on disbursements will soon be made public to ensure full transparency in line with President Tinubu’s promise of accountable governance.

Beyond immediate financial support, the administration is launching a ward-based development initiative covering all 8,809 wards nationwide. The scheme will channel resources directly to communities to empower artisans, small businesses, and local productivity driving job creation from the bottom up.

“Our goal is an inclusive economy where reforms translate into better lives,” Edun said, noting that the Renewed Hope Agenda prioritizes jobs, access to services, and shared prosperity across every region.

Former SEC DG and ex-World Bank Vice President, Arunma Oteh, praised the government’s policy direction, but urged greater mobilization of long-term capital into infrastructure and the mining sector. She pointed out that Nigeria has over 40 commercially viable minerals that could accelerate growth and reduce reliance on oil.

As Nigeria navigates short-term challenges from subsidy reforms and market adjustments, the Tinubu administration insists that the long-term gains stability, investment, and grassroots empowerment are already taking shape.