The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of ₦50,000 cash assistance to vulnerable Nigerians under its National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), as part of efforts to reduce the financial pressure on households struggling with rising food prices and the cost of essential goods.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the programme in a statement issued on 30 October, describing it as a presidential intervention designed to provide immediate financial support to households facing economic difficulties.

According to the minister, eligible beneficiaries will receive ₦50,000 monthly to help them meet basic needs and cope with the rising cost of living. He added that the programme would be reviewed periodically in response to changes in living costs, with beneficiaries notified before any adjustments are made.

The ministry is working with licensed digital financial service providers to deliver the funds directly to beneficiaries. Selected individuals are expected to receive text messages from approved providers requesting their consent before the money is transferred into their accounts or mobile wallets.

The government has identified ALAT by Wema, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint among the payment providers. Its official NERSI platform also lists Xpress Payments as an approved provider.

Beneficiaries are not required to submit fresh applications, pay registration fees or engage agents to access the support. According to the ministry, selection is based on verified national identity records and the National Social Register, with payments being released in phases across the country's six geopolitical zones.

The ministry has also warned Nigerians against individuals attempting to exploit the programme. Beneficiaries have been advised not to disclose their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), passwords or one-time passwords (OTPs) to anyone claiming to facilitate their payments.

For enquiries or suspicious messages, the ministry has provided an official helpline, 0700-022-2222, urging Nigerians to verify information before responding to payment notifications.

Meanwhile, the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP) announced that payments were ongoing and advised individuals whose eligibility status showed “NOT SELECTED” to remain patient while awaiting subsequent batches. However, the announcement did not guarantee that everyone currently marked as not selected would receive the assistance later.

There is also a difference in the description of the payment frequency that beneficiaries should take note of. While the minister's announcement describes the ₦50,000 support as a monthly payment, the Federal Government's official NERSI website currently describes it as a one-off grant. The government will need to clarify this difference to avoid confusion among beneficiaries.

The intervention comes as many Nigerian households continue to face pressure from the rising cost of food and other essential commodities. Its impact will depend largely on transparent beneficiary selection, effective distribution and the government's ability to ensure that the intended households receive the assistance.

© 2026 Aliu Azeema |

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