The Federal Government has commenced a cash relief programme offering ₦50,000 to vulnerable households to help them cope with rising living costs.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, announced the intervention on Friday in Abuja.
The programme, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is designed to provide financial assistance to millions of Nigerians struggling with rising food prices and the cost of essential goods.
Doro said eligible beneficiaries would receive ₦50,000 monthly under the intervention.
“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 explained that payments would be made directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts or mobile wallets through licensed digital financial service providers.
He said selected beneficiaries would receive text messages requesting their consent before payments were made.
Doro also warned Nigerians against fraudsters, stressing that beneficiaries were not required to apply, pay fees or register through agents to access the support.
“If you are unsure about any message, or anyone asks you for money, call the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222,” he said.
However, the government's official NERSI webpage describes the ₦50,000 support as a one-off payment, rather than a monthly grant.
The programme's guidelines say beneficiaries will be selected using verified national identity records and the National Social Register.
Payments will also be made in phases.
The minister said the intervention would be reviewed regularly to reflect changes in the cost of living.
He added that the programme would complement existing government social protection initiatives under President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.
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