The Federal Government has announced the commencement of a ₦50,000 cash relief programme for vulnerable households across Nigeria, explaining that beneficiaries will be selected through existing national records without requiring a fresh application.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the initiative on Friday, October 30, 2026, describing it as part of efforts to ease the financial pressure on households struggling with rising food prices and the cost of essential goods.
The programme, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is a presidential initiative designed to provide direct financial assistance to millions of vulnerable Nigerians.
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According to the minister, eligible households will receive ₦50,000 under the intervention to help them meet basic needs and cope with the rising cost of living.
Doro explained that the government was working with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure that the funds reach selected beneficiaries securely and directly through their accounts or mobile wallets.
How the Federal Government Will Select Beneficiaries
The Federal Government has explained that beneficiaries will be identified through verified national identity records and the National Social Register.
According to the programme’s official guidelines, the selection process will focus on poor and vulnerable households, with eligible individuals screened using existing government records.
The initiative is designed to cover all six geopolitical zones, with beneficiaries selected based on their level of need rather than their religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
The government also clarified that Nigerians do not need to submit a fresh application, visit any government office or pay an agent to qualify for the financial support.
Payments are expected to be made in phases, meaning selected beneficiaries may receive notifications at different times.
How Selected Nigerians Will Receive the ₦50,000
The minister said beneficiaries would receive text messages from approved digital financial service providers requesting their consent before the payment is processed.
The approved providers listed on the programme’s official website are:
- ALAT by Wema Bank
- MoMo Payment Service Bank
- NairaGram
Once a selected beneficiary accepts the notification, the money will be credited to their designated mobile wallet, according to the programme’s guidelines.
The official NERSI portal also provides USSD options for beneficiaries to check their eligibility and access their funds.
The government has warned Nigerians to remain vigilant against fraudsters who may attempt to exploit the programme by demanding money or requesting sensitive banking information.
Beneficiaries are not required to pay any registration or processing fee. The ministry has also cautioned Nigerians against sharing their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) or One-Time Passwords (OTPs) with anyone.
Those who have questions or receive suspicious messages can contact the programme’s official helpline on 0700-022-2222.
Is the ₦50,000 Payment Monthly or a One-Time Grant?
Although the Humanitarian Affairs Minister announced that eligible households would receive ₦50,000 monthly, the programme’s official website describes the support as a one-off payment.
This difference has raised questions about the actual payment arrangement and how long beneficiaries should expect to receive the financial assistance.
The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) reported the discrepancy after examining the information published on the programme’s website.
ActionAid Nigeria has also called on the Federal Government to provide greater clarity on the programme’s funding, beneficiary selection criteria and disbursement arrangements.
The organisation stressed the need for transparency and accountability to ensure that the intervention reaches the Nigerians who genuinely need the assistance.
For now, the Federal Government’s announcement and the published programme guidelines contain different descriptions of the payment frequency, making further clarification necessary.
The NERSI intervention is part of the government’s broader social protection efforts aimed at supporting vulnerable households amid continuing economic pressures.
