FG Begins N50,000 Monthly Cash Payments to Vulnerable Nigerians – Minister

The Federal Government has commenced a monthly cash relief programme that will provide N50,000 to eligible vulnerable households to help cushion the impact of rising living costs across Nigeria.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, announced the development in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

Doro said the programme, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), was introduced as a presidential initiative to provide immediate financial assistance to millions of vulnerable Nigerians.

He explained that the intervention was designed in response to global food inflation and the increasing cost of essential goods, which have continued to put pressure on household incomes.

“Under this intervention, eligible beneficiaries will receive N50,000 monthly, providing direct assistance to help meet essential needs and ease the burden of living costs,” the minister said.

According to Doro, the programme will be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in the cost of living. He added that beneficiaries would receive direct notifications before any adjustments to the payments are made.

The minister disclosed that his ministry was working with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure that the funds are disbursed securely, transparently and on time.

He explained that eligible beneficiaries would receive text messages from the service providers requesting their consent before payments are transferred directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.

Doro stressed that Nigerians do not need to submit applications, pay registration fees or go through agents to benefit from the programme. He also warned citizens against fraudsters and advised them not to disclose their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) to anyone.

“If you are unsure about any message, or anyone asks you for money, call the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222,” he said.

The minister described NERSI as a complementary intervention to existing Federal Government social protection and economic support programmes, noting that it was intended to strengthen household resilience and promote economic stability.

He added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to implementing the programme with transparency, accountability and respect for beneficiaries.