The federal government has turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and support millions of vulnerable citizens living in urban slums, to tackle poverty across Nigeria
Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, revealed on Friday that AI technology is now at the heart of efforts to expand the national social register, a database used to deliver targeted welfare programs. Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time, Yilwatda explained that the register, which once focused only on rural communities, now covers both rural and urban poor, growing from 13 million to 19.7 million people.
“To help someone, you must first know them. You can’t support people you can’t identify,” Yilwatda said. “That’s why we started by validating the social register.”
According to the minister, the government used satellite imagery to map out urban slums, then analyzed telecoms data to identify phone numbers in those areas. AI was then deployed to cross-check these numbers against financial access and other poverty indicators, ensuring that only the truly needy are included.
This technological leap means that Nigeria’s anti-poverty programs are more inclusive than ever. The government now aims to reach 15 million households, about 75 million individuals, with interventions such as conditional cash transfers.
Yilwatda pointed out that food poverty remains a major challenge, affecting roughly 42% of Nigerians. “If you take 42% of 200 million, that’s about 80 million people. Divide that by an average household size of five, and you have roughly 20 million households affected,” he explained.
The government’s conditional cash transfer program is designed to reach 15 million of these households, providing each with ₦75,000. While this amount may seem modest in urban centers, Yilwatda noted that it can make a significant difference in rural areas.
“Our research with the World Bank and civil society groups shows that 18% of recipients started small businesses with the money, 82% used it to improve food security, and 52% paid school fees for their children,” he said.
Beyond cash transfers, the government is investing in long-term solutions. Yilwatda highlighted initiatives like student scholarships for families below the poverty line and a ₦1.5 trillion fund for farmers to boost food production and security.
He emphasized that the administration is shifting from short-term humanitarian relief to sustainable poverty reduction. “Poverty alleviation reduces the pain; poverty reduction moves people out of poverty entirely,” he said.
Officials in the country hope these efforts will mark a turning point in the fight against poverty, ensuring that millions more Nigerians have a chance at a better life.
