Kano State has taken a leading position in institutionalising social protection frameworks in the North-West with the establishment of the Kano Social Protection Agency (KASPA), even as neighbouring states such as Jigawa and Katsina are yet to finalise and domesticate their social protection laws.
Findings by ‘The Historica Nigeria‘ online newspaper reveal that while Kano has moved ahead with a structured agency to drive its social protection agenda, Jigawa State is still in the process of finalising its Social Protection Law, while Katsina State awaits the Governor’s assent for its own framework to become fully operational.
The development underscores varying levels of progress among states in addressing poverty, vulnerability, and social exclusion, particularly among children and other at-risk groups.
During the first quarter of 2026, a two-day Joint Social Protection Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting for Katsina, Kano, and Jigawa States held in Kaduna, with support from the UNICEF Kano Field Office, where stakeholders deliberated on shared challenges and strategies for strengthening social protection systems across the region.
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A Social Protection Specialist with the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Fatimah Musa, emphasised the urgency of strengthening social protection systems during her presentation at the meeting.
Musa described social protection as a set of policies and programmes designed to prevent and reduce poverty and inequality throughout an individual’s life cycle, with special focus on vulnerable populations.
According to her, social protection ensures stable access to income and essential services such as healthcare and education, thereby reducing exposure to poverty-related risks.
She noted that children living in poverty often suffer severe deprivation, including lack of access to nutrition, clean water, sanitation, healthcare, shelter, education, and protection.
Quoting the United Nations General Assembly, Musa stressed that deprivation is particularly harmful to children, as it limits their ability to realise their full potential and participate meaningfully in society.
She further explained that a child is considered monetarily poor if they live in a household lacking sufficient financial resources to meet basic needs, while multidimensional poverty occurs when a child experiences deprivation in at least three key areas of wellbeing.
Providing data to underscore the scale of the problem, Musa said the national monetary child poverty rate stands at 47.6 per cent, with Kano at 59.5 per cent, Jigawa at 89.4 per cent, and Katsina at 61.2 per cent.
She added that the 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index shows a national rate of 67.5 per cent, with Kano at 69.2 per cent, Jigawa at 85.6 per cent, and Katsina at 75.2 per cent, reflecting widespread deprivation across the region.
Musa stressed that the figures highlight the urgent need for stronger social protection systems to safeguard children and vulnerable populations.
In his remarks, the Katsina State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Malik Anas, reiterated the state government’s commitment to strengthening social protection policies aimed at reducing poverty and protecting vulnerable populations.
He said the meeting provided an opportunity for states in the North-West region to deliberate on shared challenges and develop strategies to address poverty and inequality.
The commissioner explained that key components of social protection include social assistance, health insurance, and market development, all of which are essential in addressing the unequal distribution of resources among citizens.
Citing data from the World Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics, he noted that poverty remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, particularly in the North-West, where poverty rates exceed the national average.
According to him, the rising level of poverty underscores the need for comprehensive social protection policies that promote equity, fairness, and improved living standards.
Anas warned that extreme poverty exposes young people to risks such as recruitment into banditry and other criminal activities, while also increasing the vulnerability of children to abuse, gender-based violence, and harmful traditional practices.
“These challenges have made many children vulnerable in places where they should ordinarily feel safe, including homes, schools, and communities,” he said.
He noted that the Katsina State Government, under the leadership of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved several intervention programmes aimed at reducing poverty and improving the welfare of vulnerable groups.
The commissioner also called on participating states to share implementation strategies and strengthen collaboration to achieve sustainable social protection outcomes.
He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to supporting programmes that promote a just, equitable, and inclusive society where all citizens, particularly children and women, can live and thrive.
