FG Harnesses AI to Identify Poor Nigerians for Cash Aid – Minister Reveals

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

Poor neighbourhood in Nigeria 

The Federal Government is now leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accurately identify Nigeria’s poorest citizens, expanding its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) initiative with cutting-edge technology.  

Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, shared this breakthrough in an exclusive interview with Arise News. According to him, AI, in partnership with telecom firms, has helped detect underprivileged individuals across urban and rural communities, ensuring no one is left behind.  

Using AI-driven analysis of mobile data, the government has successfully added 6.5 million urban poor to the National Social Register, pushing the total beneficiaries to 19.7 million.  

"AI helped generate a list of vulnerable Nigerians by analyzing phone numbers, bank accounts, and financial activity," Yilwatda explained. "This ensures transparency and precision in targeting those who truly need assistance."

In line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, all cash transfers are now digitally disbursed to verified bank accounts, eliminating physical cash handling and reducing fraud risks.  

"The President mandated a shift from cash payments. Now, every transaction is traceable and secure," the Minister emphasized.  

To ensure credibility, the government collaborated with the World Bank and independent verifiers, including civil society organizations, to validate the social register.  

"94% of beneficiaries were physically verified, while 6% were unreachable, possibly due to inactive phone lines," Yilwatda noted.  

This AI-powered approach marks a major leap in Nigeria’s poverty alleviation efforts, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and wider reach in social welfare programs.