The Federal Government has deployed Artificial Intelligence (AI) to locate vulnerable Nigerians and add them to the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program. This major upgrade aims to improve accuracy and eliminate fraud by directly linking recipients through verified mobile and banking data.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, shared the update on Friday, May 31, 2025, during a live interview with Arise News.
6.5 Million Urban Poor Newly Added
Yilwatda revealed that AI technology, in partnership with telecommunication companies, was used to identify 6.5 million new beneficiaries in urban areas, expanding the National Social Register to a total of 19.7 million Nigerians.
He explained that AI worked by analyzing phone numbers, digital footprints, and available financial services data to flag individuals experiencing poverty in both cities and rural communities.
“AI was used to generate a list of people who are poor in their communities, using phone numbers and financial records,” he said.
These findings were added to the existing database to ensure no deserving person is left behind, especially in urban slums where poverty is harder to measure with traditional tools.
No More Cash Disbursements – Only Bank Transfers
Following President Bola Tinubu’s directive, Yilwatda confirmed that the entire CCT payment process is now cashless. All verified beneficiaries are paid directly into their bank accounts, removing the need for physical cash or third-party handling.
“The President said we can’t pay people using cash again. So there’s no cash payment, no physical movement of funds,” the minister noted.
This step is designed to reduce corruption and improve transparency in the distribution process, particularly in areas where cash-based handouts previously caused problems.
94 Percent of Beneficiaries Fully Verified
The Minister added that to ensure the credibility of the list, the World Bank and independent civil society verifiers were brought in to audit the register. Their field verification exercise showed that:
- 94 percent of listed individuals were confirmed through direct contact
- 6 percent could not be reached due to issues like inactive numbers or relocation
Yilwatda stated that the National Social Register is now one of the most reliable in Africa, backed by physical verification and digital tracking.
The use of AI for identifying the poor marks a major shift in how Nigeria targets social welfare. With a growing list of nearly 20 million beneficiaries, the government is trying to ensure fairness, remove fraud, and improve delivery.
Cash transfers will now go directly to verified bank accounts, ensuring speed and accountability. This digital approach, if sustained, could redefine how poverty intervention programs are managed across the country.
The Conditional Cash Transfer program is expected to scale even further in 2025, using a mix of technology, verification, and financial inclusion to support millions of struggling Nigerians.