Rising cost of living: FG begins N50,000 monthly relief payments to poor Nigerians

The Federal Government is set to begin monthly payments of N50,000 to selected vulnerable households under its National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), as part of efforts to cushion the impact of rising living costs.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the initiative was designed to provide financial relief to Nigerians facing economic difficulties.

Doro explained that selected beneficiaries would receive text messages from designated telecommunications service providers seeking their consent before the money is transferred directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.

“This message is genuine. Once consent is given, payment is made directly to the beneficiary’s account/mobile wallet,” Doro said.

He described NERSI as a complementary intervention to the Federal Government’s existing social protection and economic support programmes.

According to him, the initiative underscores the government’s determination to provide immediate assistance to vulnerable citizens while strengthening household resilience and promoting economic stability under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We recognise the challenges many Nigerians are facing. The ministry is committed to delivering this intervention with dignity, transparency and accountability,” he said.

The minister cautioned prospective beneficiaries against falling victim to fraudsters, stressing that participation in the programme does not require an application, payment of fees or registration through intermediaries.

“Never share your PIN or BVN with anyone,” he cautioned.

He further advised Nigerians who have doubts about messages purportedly relating to the programme, or anyone asked to make payments to access the intervention, to verify such information through the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.

Doro also disclosed that the programme would undergo periodic reviews to accommodate changes in the cost of living. He added that beneficiaries would receive direct notifications before any adjustments to the intervention are implemented.

Information published on the NERSI portal indicates that beneficiaries are selected through verified national identity records and the National Social Register, with priority given to poor and vulnerable households.

The portal identifies ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo Payment Service Bank and NairaGram as approved payment channels for the programme.

It further explains that the intervention is being rolled out in phases, meaning eligible beneficiaries may receive their notifications at different times.

Under the programme’s guidelines, recipients can access their funds through mobile wallets, transfer the money to their bank accounts or withdraw through designated agents, although applicable transaction charges may apply.