The Federal Government has rolled out a monthly cash support scheme offering N50,000 to vulnerable households as part of efforts to ease the burden of rising living costs.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abujw.
He described the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) as a presidential initiative aimed at providing immediate financial support to millions of Nigerian vulnerable households facing economic hardship.
Doro attributed the intervention to the persistent rise in global food prices and the increasing cost of essential commodities, which have continued to strain household finances.
Under the scheme, qualified beneficiaries are expected to receive N50,000 monthly to support their basic needs. The minister added that the amount would be reviewed periodically in line with prevailing economic conditions, with affected beneficiaries informed ahead of any changes.
He said the ministry had partnered with licensed digital financial service providers to guarantee safe, timely and transparent disbursement of the funds.
According to him, the providers will send text messages to prospective beneficiaries to obtain their consent before transferring the money into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
The minister clarified that access to the programme does not require an application, payment or registration through third-party agents.
He cautioned Nigerians against falling victim to fraudsters, urging them to protect their personal identification numbers (PINs) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) and avoid sharing such details with anyone.
Doro advised anyone uncertain about a message or approached for payment in connection with the scheme to contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
He noted that the intervention would complement other Federal Government social protection and economic support initiatives, while strengthening household resilience and promoting economic stability.
The minister said the programme was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, assuring Nigerians of the ministry’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability and dignity in its implementation