The Federal Government has commenced a monthly cash assistance programme offering N50,000 to vulnerable Nigerians to help them cope with rising living costs and the increasing prices of essential commodities.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, announced this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, describing the initiative as part of the government’s efforts to provide financial relief to millions of struggling households.
Doro said the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) was a presidential initiative designed to provide immediate financial support to vulnerable citizens.
He explained that the programme was introduced against the backdrop of global food inflation and the rising cost of essential goods, which have continued to erode household purchasing power.
“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.
He noted that the intervention would undergo periodic reviews to accommodate changes in the cost of living, adding that beneficiaries would be informed directly before any adjustments were implemented.
According to him, the ministry is partnering with licensed digital financial service providers to guarantee secure, transparent and timely disbursement of the funds.
Doro explained that beneficiaries would receive text messages from the designated service providers requesting their consent before the money was transferred directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
He stressed that interested Nigerians were not required to apply, pay any fees or register through agents to benefit from the programme.
The minister also cautioned members of the public against fraudsters seeking to exploit the intervention, warning beneficiaries not to disclose their Personal Identification Numbers or Bank Verification Numbers to unauthorised persons.
“If you are unsure about any message, or anyone asks you for money, call the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222,” he advised.
Doro described NERSI as a complementary intervention to existing Federal Government social protection and economic support schemes, saying it was intended to strengthen household resilience and promote economic stability.
He added that the programme was consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring its implementation with dignity, transparency and accountability.
