The Federal Government has announced a new cash-relief programme offering ₦50,000 monthly to eligible vulnerable Nigerian households to help cushion the impact of rising food prices and the increasing cost of living.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the initiative on Friday, October 30, 2026, describing it as a presidential intervention designed to provide immediate financial assistance to millions of Nigerians facing economic hardship.
The programme, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is intended to complement existing Federal Government social protection schemes and strengthen household resilience.
According to Doro, the intervention was introduced in response to global food inflation and rising prices of essential goods, which have continued to put pressure on household finances.
“Under this intervention, eligible beneficiaries will receive ₦50,000 monthly, providing direct assistance to help meet essential needs and ease the burden of living costs,” the minister said.
He explained that the payment arrangement would be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in the cost of living, with beneficiaries notified directly before any adjustment.
Doro said the ministry was working with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure that the funds were delivered securely, promptly and transparently.
Under the announced arrangement, selected beneficiaries would receive text messages from the approved providers requesting their consent before payments were made into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
The minister stressed that Nigerians would not be required to submit applications, pay registration fees or use agents to access the intervention.
He warned members of the public against fraudsters seeking to exploit the programme, advising beneficiaries not to disclose their Personal Identification Numbers or Bank Verification Numbers 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.
Doro added that the intervention aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to implementing the programme with transparency, accountability and dignity.
However, there is a discrepancy between the minister’s announcement and the information currently displayed on the ministry’s official NERSI webpage. While the October 30 announcement states that eligible beneficiaries will receive ₦50,000 monthly, the ministry’s frequently asked questions page describes the intervention as a one-off ₦20,000 payment into a mobile wallet.
The ministry’s website also explains that beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, and that individuals cannot apply or pay anyone to secure a place on the beneficiary list.
The difference between the two payment descriptions raises questions about whether the official programme guidelines have been fully updated to reflect the latest announcement.
Nigerians are therefore advised to rely on verified government communication channels and avoid responding to unsolicited messages or individuals demanding money in exchange for access to the intervention.
The government says NERSI is intended to provide direct relief to vulnerable households while complementing other social protection measures aimed at reducing the effects of economic hardship.
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