The Federal Government has said it will commence the disbursement of ₦50,000 monthly conditional cash transfers to eligible vulnerable Nigerians as part of efforts to cushion the effects of economic hardship.
The intervention, under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is targeted at poor and vulnerable households captured in the National Social Register to improve their livelihoods.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Bernard Doro stated this on Friday, describing the initiative as a presidential intervention intended to provide immediate financial relief to millions of citizens facing pressure on household budgets.
The Minister said the programme is designed to help recipients meet essential needs and achieve short-term financial stability.
Under the programme, eligible beneficiaries will receive ₦50,000 monthly, with the government saying the amount will be reviewed periodically in response to changes in the cost of living, the Minister said.
He said recipients will be notified directly before any adjustment to payments.
He added that the ministry is working with licensed digital financial-service providers to deliver funds securely and transparently.
Beneficiaries, he stated, will receive text messages from approved providers seeking consent before payments are credited to their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
Doro warned Nigerians to beware of fraudsters seeking to exploit the programme.
He said beneficiaries do not need to apply, pay fees or register through agents, and cautioned recipients against sharing their personal identification numbers or Bank Verification Numbers with anyone.
Nigerians who receive suspicious messages or are asked to pay for access to the programme can contact the official NERSI helpline at 0700-022-2222, the Minister said.
He added that NERSI is intended to complement Nigeria’s existing social-protection and economic-support programmes.
Doro also disclosed that the intervention is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying it aims to provide immediate assistance while strengthening household resilience.
“We recognise the challenges many Nigerians are facing,” Doro said, adding, “The Ministry is committed to delivering this intervention with dignity, transparency and accountability”.
