Ukorebi Esien | January 25, 2026
CALABAR – The use of digital tracking and GPS-based household mapping has significantly improved the credibility, transparency, and accountability of the National Cash Transfer Programme in Cross River State, key stakeholders have said.
This was disclosed during a beneficiary sensitisation and engagement forum organised by the State Cash Transfer Office, where officials explained that geocoding technology now enables accurate identification, verification, and monitoring of beneficiaries across communities in the state.
Speaking at the event, Chief Henry Egbedo, Chief Coordinator of NGOs in Cross River State, said the adoption of GPS "drop-on location" during household enumeration has eliminated doubts surrounding beneficiary selection.
"At the point of enumeration, the GPS location of each household is captured. This means that at any time, the system can locate beneficiaries without depending on community leaders or manual records," Egbedo explained.
He noted that the process begins with Community-Based Targeting (CBT), where community members themselves identify poor and vulnerable households, stressing that the selection is community-driven rather than politically influenced.
Egbedo further clarified that the compiled register is transmitted to the National Cash Transfer Office, where a Proxy Means Test (PMT) is applied to objectively select the poorest households based on household size and vulnerability indicators such as the presence of children under five.
> "Large households with higher dependency ratios are prioritised because they are more vulnerable. However, if people give false information during enumeration, they end up cheating themselves," he added.
Also speaking, Prof. Esther Patrick Achiba, Focal Person for the programme, explained that digital monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are used to track fund utilisation and assess impact.
> "We have followed up on beneficiaries and observed that many have combined their transfers to form cooperatives and start small businesses. This shows the programme is achieving its poverty-alleviation ," Achiba said.
Representing the Cross River State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the Permanent Secretary,Mr. Andy Akutsu-Adeshi, commended the National Cash Transfer Programme for aligning with the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda.
> "This initiative speaks directly to poverty reduction. The shift from analog processes to digital systems gives confidence that the programme will be sustained and expanded," Akutsu-Adeshi stated.
On the payment process, Mr. Tony Okori, who represented Fortis Payment Services, assured beneficiaries of transparency and readiness in fund disbursement.
> "We are fully on ground to carry out the payments, and the process is completely transparent," Okori said.
One of the beneficiaries, Rev. Hogan Eperon, described his selection as fair and merit-based.
> "I was not selected because I know someone. I was selected by a system that works. This support will help me start a small business and improve my family's livelihood," he said.
Stakeholders at the forum urged beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly, warning against data manipulation and misuse, as effective utilisation would encourage the Federal Government and development partners, including the **World Bank**, to expand the programme.
With digital tracking, GPS mapping, and strict separation of duties between beneficiary identification and payment agencies, the Cross River Cash Transfer Programme is increasingly being viewed as a model for transparent and accountable social protection delivery in Nigeria.
0 comments: