The Federal Government is set to commence monthly cash transfers of N50,000 to selected vulnerable households across the country under its National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), in a fresh effort to cushion the impact of rising living costs on struggling Nigerians.
The intervention, announced by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, is designed to provide direct financial support to poor households battling economic hardship, with payments to be made directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts or mobile wallets.
Doro, in a statement issued on Friday, said beneficiaries would receive text messages from designated telecommunications network providers requesting their consent before the money is transferred.
The minister emphasised that the notification was genuine, urging eligible Nigerians not to ignore the messages or mistake them for fraudulent solicitations.
“This message is genuine. Once consent is given, payment is made directly to the beneficiary’s account/mobile wallet,” he said.
The N50,000 monthly intervention comes amid persistent concerns over the rising cost of living and the financial pressure on low-income households, as the Federal Government seeks to expand its social protection measures.
Doro explained that NERSI was designed to complement existing government social protection and economic support programmes, adding that the initiative was part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the ministry was committed to ensuring that the intervention delivered immediate relief while strengthening household resilience and economic stability.
“We recognise the challenges many Nigerians are facing. The ministry is committed to delivering this intervention with dignity, transparency and accountability,” the minister stated.
Fraudsters On Notice
However, amid concerns that criminal elements could exploit the cash transfer programme to defraud desperate Nigerians, Doro issued a strong warning against unauthorised agents and individuals demanding payments from prospective beneficiaries.
He stressed that beneficiaries were not required to submit applications, pay registration fees or engage intermediaries to access the intervention.
“Never share your PIN or BVN with anyone,” he cautioned.
The minister directed Nigerians who receive suspicious messages or encounter demands for money in connection with the programme to contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
He also disclosed that the programme would undergo periodic reviews to reflect changes in the cost of living, assuring that beneficiaries would receive direct notifications before any adjustments were introduced.
How Beneficiaries Will Be Selected
According to information published on the NERSI portal, beneficiaries are identified through verified national identity records and the National Social Register, with the intervention specifically targeting poor and vulnerable households.
The programme has listed ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo Payment Service Bank and NairaGram as approved payment providers.
Its implementation will be conducted in phases, meaning that beneficiaries will not necessarily receive their notifications simultaneously.
The published guidelines further indicate that recipients can access their funds through mobile wallets, transfer the money into their bank accounts or withdraw through authorised agents, subject to applicable transaction charges.
With the commencement of the N50,000 monthly payments, attention will now turn to the transparency of beneficiary selection, the timely disbursement of funds and the ability of the intervention to provide meaningful relief to households struggling with the country’s economic realities.
