The Federal Government has announced a N50,000 monthly cash relief programme for vulnerable Nigerians to cushion the effects of rising food prices and the increasing cost of essential goods.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the initiative in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, October 30, 2026.
Doro said the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) was a presidential initiative designed to provide immediate financial assistance to millions of Nigerians facing economic hardship.
According to him, eligible beneficiaries will receive N50,000 monthly to help meet essential household needs and reduce the pressure of rising living costs.
“Under this intervention, eligible beneficiaries will receive N50,000 monthly, providing direct assistance to help Nmeet essential needs and ease the burden of living costs,” the minister said.
He explained that the programme would be reviewed regularly to reflect changes in the cost of living, adding that beneficiaries would be notified directly before any adjustments were made.
How beneficiaries will receive the money
The minister said the government was partnering with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure secure, timely and transparent delivery of the funds.
According to Doro, selected beneficiaries will receive text messages from the providers requesting their consent before payments are made into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
He stressed that Nigerians would not need to submit applications, pay registration fees or engage agents to access the intervention.
The minister also warned against fraudsters attempting to exploit the programme, advising beneficiaries not to disclose their Personal Identification Numbers or Bank Verification Numbers to 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.
Doro explained that the intervention would complement existing Federal Government social protection and economic support programmes while strengthening household resilience and economic stability.
He added that the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to implementing the programme with dignity, transparency and accountability.
The announcement comes as Nigerian households continue to face pressure from rising food prices and the cost of essential commodities.
However, the ministry’s official NERSI information portal currently describes a one-off N20,000 payment rather than the N50,000 monthly support announced by the minister, creating a need for further clarification on the programme’s payment structure.
The portal states that beneficiaries are selected through verified national identity records and the National Social Register, without an open application process.
