THE Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, has introduced a N50,000 monthly cash transfer for vulnerable Nigerians under a new intervention aimed at helping low-income households cope with rising food prices and the increasing cost of essential goods.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.
He said the programme was initiated by President Bola Tinubu to provide direct financial assistance to millions of vulnerable households facing mounting economic pressures.
Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries will receive N50,000 every month to support their basic needs and cushion the impact of the rising cost of living.
Doro said the intervention was designed to respond to pressures from global food inflation and higher prices of essential commodities, which have continued to erode household purchasing power.
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“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,” he said.
The minister said the government would periodically review the programme in line with changes in living costs, adding that beneficiaries would be notified directly before any adjustment to the monthly payment.
To facilitate the disbursement, the ministry is partnering with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure that payments reach beneficiaries securely and without unnecessary delays.
According to Doro, selected beneficiaries will receive text messages from the service providers seeking their consent before the funds are transferred directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
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He stressed that participation in the programme does not require beneficiaries to submit fresh applications, pay registration charges or engage intermediaries to secure the payments.
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The minister warned that the government would not demand fees from beneficiaries, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant against individuals attempting to exploit the intervention through fraudulent messages and registration schemes.
He also cautioned beneficiaries against disclosing their personal identification numbers (PINs) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) to anyone, including people claiming to represent the government or payment service providers.
Doro advised Nigerians who receive suspicious messages or requests for money to contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222 for verification.
The minister said the new intervention would complement existing Federal Government social protection and economic support programmes, with the broader objective of strengthening household resilience and supporting economic stability.
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He added that the scheme formed part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, pledging that its implementation would be guided by transparency, accountability and respect for beneficiaries.
The government did not disclose in the announcement the total number of beneficiaries, the overall funding allocation or the duration of the intervention.
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