The Federal Government has begun rolling out a monthly cash relief scheme offering N50,000 to vulnerable households to help offset the impact of rising living costs. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) on Friday in Abuja. According to the minister, the presidential initiative was introduced in response to global food inflation and the increasing costs of essential goods, which continue to put pressure on households across the country.
Under the programme, eligible beneficiaries will receive N50,000 each month to assist with meeting essential needs. The minister said the scheme would be reviewed regularly as living costs change, with beneficiaries notified directly of any adjustments. The Federal Government is working with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure funds are delivered securely, promptly and transparently. Beneficiaries will receive text messages from the providers requesting consent before payments are transferred directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
Dr Doro emphasised that beneficiaries do not need to apply for the support, pay any fees or register through agents to access the intervention. He warned Nigerians against fraudsters and advised recipients not to share their personal identification numbers (PINs) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) with anyone. Those unsure about messages or approached for money should call the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222, the minister said.
The minister said NERSI complements existing Federal Government social protection and economic support programmes while supporting household resilience and economic stability. He added that the intervention aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda and reaffirms the ministry's commitment to delivering the programme with dignity, transparency and accountability.