The Sokoto State Operation and Coordinating Unit (SOCU) has pledged to expand social protection coverage in the state by integrating one million new households into the National Social Register between September and December this year.
The assurance came during a stakeholder engagement meeting on the review of the Social Protection Policy and the register, where State Coordinator, Mr. Chika Waziri, praised development partners—including UNICEF, the EU, and the ILO—for their support. He said the expansion, spanning Sokoto, Benue, Abia, and Oyo, would help reach more vulnerable citizens and strengthen the fight against poverty.
Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Muhammad Zayyana, noted that the programme, which began in 2022, has already yielded promising results. He explained that the state is conducting a Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) survey across Nigeria’s 8,860 wards using 2022 data as a baseline. He stressed that Governor Ahmed Aliyu strongly backs the initiative, motivated by a desire to end child street begging in the state.
Commissioner for Social Welfare and Humanitarian Affairs, Assabe Balarabe, lauded stakeholders for their commitment, while UNICEF’s Social Policy Specialist, Mr. Isah Ibrahim, highlighted how the programme has positively impacted women and children. He commended the governor for creating an enabling environment for social programmes.
Stakeholders underscored the centrality of the Social Register in providing accurate household data to guide poverty-reduction policies. They also raised concern that around 90 percent of Sokoto residents still live in poverty, with limited access to food and healthcare. While only 40 percent of the population is covered by health insurance, participants said linking the register to beneficiaries’ phone numbers, BVN, and bank accounts would ensure accountability and transparency.
The meeting also urged the government to establish support centres for street children to protect their welfare and secure their future.
