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.

• Eze Anaba

All is set for the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) holding tomorrow in Abuja.

Expected at the two-day conference are President Bola Tinubu, who will declare it open at State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa, Abuja, governors, media leaders, members of the diplomatic corps,the academia and other dignitaries.

NGE President, Eze Anaba and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, said that no fewer than 500 editors from across the country will attend the conference.

The Guild said that Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar and Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of Arise New and This Day newspaper, will be Chairman of conference, while Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, will be keynote speaker.

The statement said that Governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), and Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), among others, are also billed for the conference.

Media leaders, the likes of Chief Segun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Mr. Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser to the President (Muhammadu Buhari) on Media and Publicity; Mallam Garba Shehu, Special Assistant to the President (Muhammadu Buhari) on Media and Publicity; Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the National Coordinator of EITI implementation in Nigeria; and Mr. Ukpe Anietie, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, among others, are billed to attend the conference.

Publishers/Chairmen, Board of Directors of newspapers, Managing Directors/ Editors-in-Chief from newspaper and broadcast organizations, Chairmen of media organisation’s Editorial Boards, and top editors are already in Abuja for the conference, the Guild said.

With a theme, “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” and sub-theme: “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians Expect in 2027,” the conference will examine the role of editors in promoting democratic governance and national cohesion, discuss challenges and opportunities facing editors in promoting democratic values and national cohesion and identify best practices and strategies for editors to promote democratic governance and national cohesion, the Guild said.

The statement said that Prof Awa Kalu, eminent lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Managing Partner, Awa Kalu & Partners, will address the conference.

Awa Kalu will speak on “Election Disputes and Judicial Integrity: Navigating the Thin Line Between Law and Politics, while Prof Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, HOD, Political Science and International Relations, University of Abuja, will take the stage thereafter to speak on: ” State of the Nation: Imperative of Economic and Political Reforms in Challenged Nation.”

On the second day of the conference on November 13, 2025 at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre, former Chief of Defence State, Gen Lucky Irabor, will speak on “Media, Terrorism, and National Security: Addressing the Complexities, ” while Prof Abiodun Adeniyi, Dean, School of Post-Graduate Studies, Baze University, Prof Abiodun Adeniyi, will talk about “The Evolving Face of Journalism: Battling Misinformation, AI Disruption, and Credibility Gap.

“The NGE said that there will be an Executive Session on the second day of the conference, where editors will interrogate government officials, political and business leaders.

The media professional body listed corporate organisations who are partners to include: Air Peace Airlines, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, as well as the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, among others.