The Federal Government, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria and the European Union, has launched a $2.5 million project aimed at strengthening social protection programmes in Nigeria.

The project, known as the EU Support for Strengthening Social Protection in Nigeria (ESSPIN), will run for three years and be implemented across 96 local government areas in Abia, Benue, Oyo and Sokoto states.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the initiative seeks to address existing gaps in the National Social Protection Register and improve the country’s social protection network systems.

Bagudu, who was represented by a Director in the ministry, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, said the project would consolidate lessons from previous interventions while promoting efficient and responsive systems that strengthen community resilience in selected pilot states.

He explained that the initiative is designed to bridge gaps identified in Nigeria’s Social Protection Policy.

“We want to identify the performance gaps, the challenges, and what needs to be done,” he said.

Ebimaro added that Nigeria must gradually shift from reliance on humanitarian support and handouts to development-driven investments.

“From the sense of economic development, we cannot continue to do social protection forever. Nigeria should be moving to the era of development and investment,” he stated.

He, however, commended the European Union, ActionAid and other development partners for supporting the initiative and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring the successful implementation of the programme.

Also speaking, Chioma Osuji, representing the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the ESSPIN project forms part of the European Union’s broader $46 million support package for Nigeria’s social protection system under the 2021–2027 Multi-Annual Indicative Programme.

According to her, the project agreement was signed in December and will run from 2026 to 2028.

Osuji said the initiative aims to increase public trust and participation in the National Social Register process, improve inter-agency collaboration, and enhance the effectiveness of the register.

In his remarks, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, disclosed that the organisation would work with local partners, including the Okaha Women and Children Development Organisation and the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, to implement the project at the community level.

He added that the ESSPIN project has established 16 Social Register Action Teams to serve as independent citizen oversight structures within the social protection system.

According to Mamedu, the project is focused on rebuilding public trust in the National Social Register while strengthening accountability and coordination systems guiding its use.

The project is expected to directly impact about 126,000 people, including 69,301 women, across the benefiting states.