The Federal Government has commenced monthly cash payments of ₦50,000 to vulnerable Nigerians under a new relief programme aimed at cushioning the impact of rising living costs.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the development in a statement issued earlier today, October 30, in Abuja, according to Channels Television.
Doro said the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) was a presidential initiative designed to provide immediate financial assistance to millions of vulnerable households.
He explained that the programme was introduced in response to global food inflation and rising prices of essential goods, which have continued to put pressure on household finances.
“Under this intervention, eligible beneficiaries will receive ₦50,000 monthly, providing direct assistance to help meet essential needs and ease the burden of living costs,” he said.
The minister added that the government would review the payments regularly to reflect changes in the cost of living, assuring beneficiaries that they would receive direct notifications before any adjustments.
According to him, the ministry is partnering with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure the secure, timely and transparent disbursement of the funds.
He said the providers would contact beneficiaries through text messages to obtain their consent before transferring the money directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
Doro stressed that eligible Nigerians do not need to apply, pay any fees or register through agents to benefit from the programme.
He also warned against fraudsters, advising Nigerians not to disclose their personal identification numbers or Bank Verification Numbers to anyone.
“If you are unsure about any message, or anyone asks you for money, call the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222,” he said.
The minister said the intervention would complement existing Federal Government social protection and economic support programmes while strengthening household resilience and economic stability.
He added that NERSI aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to implementing the programme with dignity, transparency and accountability.
