The Federal Government has begun paying N50,000 every month to vulnerable households. The goal is to ease the pressure of rising living costs.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced this in Abuja on Friday. He said the scheme is called the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI). It is a presidential initiative. Its aim is to give quick financial help to millions of Nigerians.
Doro said the programme responds to global food inflation and the rising cost of essential goods. Eligible beneficiaries will use the money to meet basic needs.
The payments will be reviewed regularly as living costs change. Beneficiaries will be told directly before any adjustment.
The ministry is working with licensed digital financial service providers, who will handle the payments. First, beneficiaries will get a text message asking for their consent. Then the money will go straight into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
Doro said nobody needs to apply, pay a fee or register through an agent. He warned people to beware of fraudsters. He also urged beneficiaries never to share their PINs or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) with anyone.
“If you are unsure about any message, or anyone asks you for money, call the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222,” he said.
The minister added that NERSI will complement existing federal social protection programmes. He said it supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He also promised that the ministry will deliver the programme with dignity, transparency and accountability.
