National Social Register Becomes Nigeria’s Strongest Tool Against Poverty, Healthcare Gaps 

LAGOS – Stakeholders have affirmed that the National Social Register (NSR) – Nigeria’s official database of poor and vulnerable households – is gaining recognition as a vital tool not only for reducing poverty but also for promoting equitable access to healthcare. 

The register is increasingly seen as a strategic asset in shaping inclusive social protection policies and ensuring that interventions reach those most in need. 

They agreed that NSR, Nigeria’s database of poor and vulnerable households, is increasingly recognised as a crucial instrument not only for poverty reduction but also for advancing equitable access to health care. 

This was deduced at a one-day stakeholder engagement, titled, “Advancing Social Protection through the National Social Register (NSR): A Strategic Tool for a Resilient Nigeria,” organised by the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) with the support from UNICEF and other development partners. 

In his opening remark, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the state remains committed to advancing social protection programmes through the NSR as a tool to reach vulnerable households. 

Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Sam Egube, while commending President Bola Tinubu for repositioning the NSR as a credible platform for delivering interventions noted that Lagos State had domesticated the operations of the NSR under its Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. 

“The register is not just a database; it is a lifeline for millions of Nigerians. I would like to commend our great leader. Lagos is aligning with this vision by ensuring the system is strengthened, transparent and accountable.The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is ensuring that all residents especially the vulnerable residents are registered,” Sanwo-Olu added. 

Speaking, Social Policy Manager, UNICEF, Mohamed Okorie, said the NSR allows government and development partners to shift from guesswork to evidence-driven planning. According to him, by identifying households based on levels of deprivation, the register provides reliable data for targeting interventions, including social health insurance schemes. 

“Health agencies can use the register to identify those households that are poor and should be prioritized for inclusion in national health insurance programs,” Okorie explained. “This ensures that government resources are directed at families who need them most, preventing leakages and strengthening accountability.” 

The register, which is compiled through community engagement, poverty profiling, and proximity tests, currently serves as a foundation for multiple government and donor-led initiatives. Okorie emphasized that it is a living tool—constantly updated to reflect people falling into or moving out of poverty. 

He noted that the NSR adopts a life-cycle approach, capturing vulnerabilities from childhood through old age. This makes it especially relevant for addressing child health concerns, maternal care, and preventive health interventions. “For UNICEF, one of the critical uses is to identify children who are deprived, including out-of-school children, and ensure their health and education needs are addressed holistically,” he said. 

According to him, the framework also supports Nigeria’s push toward universal health coverage. “With data-driven targeting, state health insurance agencies can expand coverage to those who would otherwise remain excluded due to poverty.” 

Civil society organizations, Okorie added, play a vital role in monitoring how effectively the NSR is applied. “By ensuring transparency, they help guarantee that families in need are not left behind. Private sector players and philanthropies are also encouraged to leverage the database to fund and implement health-related interventions. 

“This is no longer about assumptions or political affiliations. It is about evidence. We know who is poor, where they live, and the specific deprivations they face. That allows us to design health programs that are not just broad but tailored to real needs,” Okorie stressed. 

On his part, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa has urged sustained investment in Nigeria’s National Social Register (NSR), stressing that social protection must move beyond statistics to directly impact the lives of vulnerable citizens, Sule said Nasarawa had registered about 570,000 households, representing nearly 1.9 million people out of its three million population. 

He noted that his administration began in 2019 by supporting marginalised groups such as Almajiri and people living with disabilities with ₦5,000 monthly stipends. According to him, beneficiaries pooled funds to start small businesses, an initiative that has since expanded to over 6,000 people now receiving ₦10,000 monthly, enabling traders to grow businesses and communities to provide amenities. 

In her welcome address, National Coordinator, NASSCO, Ms. Funmi Olotu, said that the register had become one of the world’s largest social protection databases with more than 19 million households captured. 

She said that the recent integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) into the register was transforming it into a more reliable and inclusive system. “As of Aug. 31, 2025, a total of 7.68 million household records had been updated across the 36 states. From these, over 9.5 million NINs were recorded, with more than 8.3 million successfully validated,” Olotu said. 

She described the achievement as remarkable. “The real story behind the numbers is that mothers in rural areas, displaced households and young Nigerians seeking opportunities are beginning to see a government that recognises their struggles and is deliberate about supporting them,” she said. 

In his goodwill message, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Dr Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, said that social protection should be seen as a duty of the state and society rather than an act of benevolence. “Giving to the poor is not charity, it is social responsibility,” he said. 

The royal father said that Nigeria’s social contract must be anchored on inclusiveness, adding that vulnerable citizens should not look like beggars but rightful beneficiaries of public policy. 

“When government supports the less privileged through a credible system like the National Social Register, it is fulfilling its moral and constitutional responsibility. We must change our mindsets and treat social protection as an obligation,” Ogunsanwo said. 

Also, Director, Social Protection and State Coordinator of the Lagos State Operations Coordinating Unit (LASOCU), Oluwakemi Gabaddi Nadege, said the state has developed the Lagos Social and Economic State Identification for Governmental Operations (SESIGO) Social Register, containing over 213 data points on vulnerable households. This, she explained, allows agencies to engage with residents one-on-one and tailor support to their specific needs. 

“With this register, we can graduate levels of poverty, map households, and link them directly to the right interventions,” Nadege said. “Widows can be onboarded to the Ministry of Women Affairs, persons with disabilities to the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), and students to scholarship opportunities, ensuring no one is left behind.” 

She added that the State Executive Council has mandated all social intervention ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to draw beneficiaries from the register. The newly established Social Protection Coordinating Department, the first of its kind in Nigeria now oversees implementation, monitoring, and accountability.