The Federal Government has unveiled a N16 trillion, five-year initiative aimed at ending poverty in Nigeria, targeting the upliftment of 50 million citizens by 2030. The program will be implemented through the newly launched One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS).
The initiative, which involves N3.2 trillion in annual funding, is designed to tackle multidimensional poverty using real-time data, coordinated interventions, and a people-centered approach. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, said the system addresses gaps in previous poverty efforts caused by fragmentation across ministries, states, and local governments.
Doro emphasized, “Nigeria does not lack interventions; it lacks systems. We have been managing poverty, not ending it. It is time for a change. President Tinubu’s vision is clear: lift 50 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030 with real-time digital accountability and a unified national system.”
The OHOPRS aims to integrate humanitarian relief, long-term development, and social protection, aligning federal ministries, state governments, development partners, and other stakeholders. Doro stressed the urgency of the program, warning that failing to unify efforts would be detrimental to the nation.
On funding, Dr. Matur Ngyang, Finance Aide to the Minister, outlined contributions of N1.5 trillion from the federal government, N800 billion from development partners, N600 billion from the private sector and impact finance, and N300 billion from climate and global funds. Additional support is expected from international partners, including the World Bank, EU, UN, and various foundations.
UNDP Representative Elsie Attafuah described poverty in Nigeria as a humanitarian crisis, noting that 62 percent of the population lives in poverty while 33 million face acute food insecurity. She emphasized that OHOPRS is not merely about spending more, but about investing resources strategically to address root causes, improve outcomes, and create sustainable pathways out of poverty.
The initiative is seen as a critical step toward a self-sustaining system capable of anticipating risks, protecting vulnerable populations, and permanently reducing poverty across the country.
