By Gabriel Ameh
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has dismissed claims that the Federal Government’s newly unveiled $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme (HOPE-SP) was hastily introduced in response to opposition campaign promises ahead of the 2027 general elections.
TMSG said the initiative was the product of months of planning and was designed to provide long-term economic support for vulnerable Nigerians rather than serve as another short-term palliative programme.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group said the programme had been under development since November 2025, following a presidential directive to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
“The recently unveiled $1 billion social protection initiative tagged Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme (HOPE-SP) is a well thought-out, targeted and coordinated plan by the President Bola Tinubu administration to fund long-term economic support for vulnerable Nigerians,” the group said.
According to TMSG, the programme is intended to help the poorest Nigerians achieve sustainable economic independence, moving beyond the temporary relief associated with previous poverty reduction interventions.
The group acknowledged that the programme came against the backdrop of rising living costs following the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple exchange rates.
However, it rejected suggestions that the initiative was hurriedly assembled following former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent unveiling of an economic recovery plan, which includes a proposal to restore fuel subsidy.
TMSG noted that although HOPE-SP was launched about a week after Atiku announced his economic plan, the scale and structure of the Federal Government’s programme indicated that it could not have been developed within a few days.
The group also criticised suggestions by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the HOPE-SP was a political response to the opposition’s campaign proposals.
It said the programme includes mechanisms for identifying and tracking beneficiaries, monitoring their progress and guiding them through what it described as a “poverty graduation pathway” towards economic inclusion and self-reliance.
TMSG said the Tinubu administration had previously implemented cash transfer interventions that it claimed benefited about 10 million vulnerable households.
The group also referenced concerns attributed to the World Bank over gaps in Nigeria’s social protection system, particularly the effectiveness of government-funded schemes in reaching vulnerable citizens.
It argued that the latest initiative, alongside a recently announced World Bank-backed $3 billion plan, represents a broader approach to poverty reduction that goes beyond direct cash transfers.
Under the new framework, TMSG said beneficiary households would be monitored to assess the impact of the intervention and receive appropriate support towards achieving sustainable livelihoods.
The group expressed hope that the programme would gain stronger impact if state and local governments participate fully, creating a coordinated and sustained approach to reducing multidimensional poverty across the country’s 8,809 wards.
TMSG also commended Nigerians for their resilience and patience amid the ongoing economic reforms, urging citizens to remain committed to the reform process and carefully assess political claims ahead of the 2027 general elections.
