The Federal Government has commenced a fresh monthly cash relief scheme, offering N50,000 to vulnerable households to cushion the biting effects of rising food prices and the high cost of living.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the intervention, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.
According to the minister, the programme is a presidential initiative aimed at providing immediate financial assistance to millions of Nigerians struggling with economic hardship.
He explained that the N50,000 monthly payment was designed to help beneficiaries meet basic household needs amid rising food inflation and the increasing cost of essential commodities.
Under the arrangement, eligible beneficiaries will receive N50,000 every month, although the government plans to review the intervention periodically in response to changes in the cost of living.
Doro said beneficiaries would be informed directly before any changes were made to the payment structure.
The minister disclosed that the ministry was partnering with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure the funds reach beneficiaries securely and without unnecessary delays.
He added that the selected beneficiaries would receive text messages from the service providers seeking their consent before the money is transferred directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
However, Doro warned Nigerians against falling victim to fraudsters, stressing that the scheme does not require beneficiaries to submit applications, pay registration fees or go through agents.
He cautioned beneficiaries against disclosing sensitive banking information, including their personal identification numbers (PINs) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), to anyone.
The minister urged Nigerians who receive suspicious messages or demands for money to contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
He said the intervention was designed to complement existing Federal Government social protection and economic support programmes, while strengthening household resilience and economic stability.
Doro added that the scheme was part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, assuring that the government remained committed to transparency, accountability and the dignified delivery of assistance to vulnerable Nigerians.
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