The Federal Government has commenced a cash relief programme offering N50,000 to eligible vulnerable households across the country to cushion the effects of rising food prices and the increasing cost of essential goods.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the intervention in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, October 30, 2026.
The programme, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is a presidential initiative designed to provide immediate financial assistance to millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
According to Doro, eligible beneficiaries will receive N50,000 to help meet essential household needs and reduce the financial pressure caused by rising living costs.
He explained that the intervention would be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in the cost of living, adding that beneficiaries would be informed directly before any adjustments to the support.
The minister said the Federal Government was working with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure that payments were delivered securely, promptly and transparently.
Under the arrangement, selected beneficiaries would receive text messages from approved payment providers requesting their consent before the money is credited directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
Doro emphasised that Nigerians do not need to submit applications, pay registration fees or engage agents to access the programme.
He warned against fraudsters seeking to exploit the intervention, urging members of the public not to disclose their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) or other confidential banking details to anyone.
The minister advised anyone uncertain about a message received in connection with the programme, or approached by individuals demanding payment, to contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
He said the intervention was designed to complement existing Federal Government social protection and economic support programmes while strengthening household resilience and economic stability.
Doro added that the initiative reflected President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to implementing the programme with transparency, accountability and respect for beneficiaries.
The government said the payments would be made in phases, meaning eligible households would not necessarily receive notifications at the same time.
Beneficiaries are selected from verified national identity records and the National Social Register, with screening aimed at identifying poor and vulnerable households.
The official programme guidelines also clarify that the N50,000 support is a grant, not a loan, and recipients are not required to repay the money.
The Federal Government urged Nigerians to rely on official communication channels for information about the intervention and avoid individuals claiming they could secure a place on the beneficiary list for a fee.