The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of ₦50,000 monthly cash assistance to selected vulnerable households across the country under its National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), aimed at cushioning the effects of rising living costs.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the programme in a statement issued on October 30, 2026.
Doro explained that the initiative was introduced in response to global food inflation and the increasing cost of essential commodities, which have continued to put financial pressure on Nigerian households.
According to him, eligible beneficiaries will receive ₦50,000 monthly to help them meet basic needs and ease the burden of rising living expenses.
He said the programme would be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in the cost of living, adding that beneficiaries would be notified directly before any adjustments were made.
The minister disclosed that the ministry was collaborating with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure secure, transparent and timely disbursement of the funds.
He explained that selected beneficiaries would receive text messages from approved payment providers requesting their consent before the money is transferred directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
Doro stressed that beneficiaries were not required to submit applications, pay registration fees or engage agents to access the intervention.
He also warned Nigerians against fraudsters seeking to exploit the programme, advising beneficiaries not to disclose their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) or other sensitive banking details to anyone.
The minister urged anyone uncertain about messages relating to the programme or approached for payment to contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222 for verification.
He added that the intervention
complements existing Federal Government social protection and economic support programmes, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening household resilience and economic stability under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
