A new World Bank report says that only 44 percent of government-funded social safety-net schemes actually reach poor Nigerians.

In the new report titled “The State of Social Safety Nets in Nigeria”, released in November, the bank examined Nigeria’s spending on social safety nets, assessed their coverage and efficiency, and reveals how poor targeting, weak funding, and fragmented implementation have left millions of vulnerable citizens without meaningful relief despite the government’s lofty poverty-reduction promises.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced recently that the federal government is targeting 15 million households, covering some 70 million people via the digital cash-grant scheme.

The World Bank described Nigeria’s social safety-net spending as inefficient, saying a smaller portion of benefits goes to the poor despite their dominance among beneficiaries.

According to the bank, while about 56 percent of the recipients of safety-net programmes are poor, they receive only 44 percent of the total benefits.

It explained that this imbalance stems from the way most programmes, including the National Social Safety Nets Programme, allocate a fixed amount per household rather than per person.

….Says Former Naval Chief Behind Encroachment, Vows to Resist Intimidation

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has condemned the alleged illegal takeover of a disputed land in Abuja by military personnel reportedly acting on the orders of a former Chief of Naval Staff, describing the act as lawless and unacceptable.

Wike, who personally visited the site on Tuesday after receiving reports that soldiers had driven away FCTA officials enforcing development control directives, said no individual no matter their former position would be allowed to intimidate government authorities or obstruct enforcement of the law.

“You are aware that the land departments and the Development Control have the mandate to monitor illegal development and land grabbing,” the minister said.

“When this was brought to my attention, I instructed them to ensure that nothing takes place there, as there were no legal documents—no regional approval, no valid acquisition.”

According to Wike, while officials of the Department of Development Control were on site to implement his directive, they were chased away by armed soldiers allegedly acting under the instruction of a retired senior officer.

“I was informed that the soldiers of the military had to chase them away, and I thought they were acting illegally,” Wike said. “Today, while I was in the office, I was called again that the military had taken over the place. I had to come myself to see things. It’s really unfortunate.

”He expressed shock that a person who once held a top military position could resort to such intimidation rather than follow due process.

“I don’t understand how somebody who attained that position cannot approach my office to say, ‘Look, this is what is going on.’ But simply because he’s a military man, he thinks he can use that to intimidate Nigerians. I am not one of those that will succumb to blackmail or intimidation,” the minister said firmly.

Wike also disclosed that when the FCTA officials demanded documents to justify the occupation, none were produced.

“The Director of Development Control said, ‘Bring the documents’ they don’t have them. ‘Bring approval for building’ they don’t have it. How can we continue to allow lawlessness to prevail? What about those who don’t have the military behind them? What about ordinary Nigerians?

”The minister maintained that the FCT Administration would not tolerate the misuse of military power to obstruct legitimate urban regulation, stressing that the rule of law must apply to all.

“I have spoken to the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff. They assured me that the matter will be resolved. We’re not here to have a shootout with anybody or cause chaos,” Wike said.

“But I will not allow this to happen. The same way we enforce our laws in other areas is the same way it will be done here. Nobody whether a former Chief of Naval Staff or anyone else will be allowed to carry out illegal development on government land.

”Wike reaffirmed his commitment to restoring order and accountability in Abuja’s land administration, warning that the FCTA would continue to reclaim encroached areas, no matter how powerful those involved may be.

Drama ensued in Abuja on Tuesday as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, engaged in a heated confrontation with a group of Naval officers during an inspection of disputed land within the city.

The face-off, captured in a video on Tuesday, showed the minister angrily challenging military personnel allegedly deployed to prevent FCT officials from carrying out a demolition exercise on the contested site.

In the footage, Mr Wike demanded documents to justify the soldiers’ presence, insisting that no one, regardless of rank, is above the law.

“Show me the document you have. You have no document,” the minister was heard saying.

In response, a naval officer who appeared to be leading the troops stated that they were acting on “orders” and possessed the relevant documents.

“I am the minister. You cannot tell me that. We cannot continue with this kind of impunity,” Mr Wike retorted. “You cannot use soldiers to intimidate government officials doing their job. This country cannot continue this way.

”The visibly angered minister accused the officers of obstructing lawful government activity and using their uniforms to shield illegal structures.

“Even if you are a lieutenant general or vice admiral, it means nothing. The government must function according to law,” he said.

At one point, Mr Wike alleged that the officers’ actions could have endangered lives.

“If not for the Chief of Defence Staff who just spoke to me, you could have killed everybody here,” he said, suggesting that he and his entourage would have defied the soldiers, which could have resorted to violence.

The confrontation reportedly escalated when a member of the minister’s entourage challenged the naval officer, accusing him of lying about forwarding the land documents to the FCT Administration.

The comment provoked outrage among the armed officers, who became visibly agitated. Some plainclothes security officials and police personnel accompanying the minister were seen shielding him and other FCT officials from the naval officers.

A member of Mr Wike’s team was heard describing the officers’ conduct as “unprofessional” after one of them allegedly threatened to assault the minister.

The naval officer leading the troops insisted that the land in question had been legally acquired.

In reaction, Mr Wike shouted: “Will you stop that? Will you stop that?

”The officer replied, “Sir, I’m an officer. I have integrity.

”The minister responded sharply: “Shut up your mouth! Who does that? Will you get out? When I was in school, you had not even resumed school. Will you keep quiet? You are a big fool!

”The officer repeatedly countered, “I am not a fool, sir. I am acting on instructions, and I am a commissioned officer.”

The incident occurred amid the FCT Administration’s intensified crackdown on illegal land allocations, encroachments, and unapproved structures across Abuja.

Efforts to obtain official comments from the Nigerian Navy and the FCT Administration were still ongoing at the time of filing this report.

Mr Wike, known for his combative approach to governance, has repeatedly vowed to restore order in Abuja’s urban planning, insisting that government lands and public spaces must be protected from “powerful interests and lawless developers.

”However, the minister has also faced criticism over allegations of allocating prime land to close associates and family members—claims he has consistently denied.

Watch vvideo below: