FG BEGINS ₦50,000 RELIEF PAYMENTS TO VULNERABLE NIGERIANS
The Federal Government has commenced a ₦50,000 monthly cash relief programme for vulnerable Nigerians to cushion the impact of rising food prices and the increasing cost of essential goods.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the initiative, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), on October 30, 2026.
Under the programme, eligible beneficiaries will receive ₦50,000 monthly, with payments made directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets through licensed digital financial service providers.
Doro said beneficiaries would receive text messages from the designated providers seeking their consent before payments are processed.
He explained that the intervention would be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in the cost of living, with beneficiaries notified of any adjustments.
The minister stressed that Nigerians do not need to apply, pay registration fees or engage agents to access the support. He also warned against fraudsters and urged the public not to disclose their bank PINs or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs).
However, questions have been raised over the programme’s funding, beneficiary selection criteria and whether the ₦50,000 payment will be sustained monthly or treated as a one-off intervention.
