Nigerian Government Launches N50,000 Monthly Cash Relief Scheme for Vulnerable Households

The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a monthly cash relief program designed to provide financial support to vulnerable citizens and mitigate the impact of rising living costs. Introduced on October 30, the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) is a presidential initiative intended to offer immediate assistance to millions of impoverished households facing escalating prices for food and essential commodities.

According to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, eligible participants under the NERSI scheme receive ₦50,000 every month directly deposited into their bank accounts or mobile wallets. Dr. Bernard Doro, the minister overseeing the portfolio, explained that the program relies on verified national identity records and the National Social Register to screen and select qualifying low-income residents.

Unlike standard loan programs or initiatives requiring public applications, beneficiaries do not need to apply, pay any registration fees, or work through intermediaries. The ministry has partnered with licensed digital financial institutions and service providers—such as OPay, Moniepoint, ALAT by Wema, MoMo PSB, and NairaGram—to ensure safe and timely distributions.

Selected individuals receive an SMS notification from approved financial institutions and must confirm their participation before funds are credited. For instance, digital service provider OPay announced that eligible customers would see a specific pop-up notification on their app homepage, and noted that customers unable to view the feature are not eligible for the intervention.

Authorities have strongly cautioned the public to remain vigilant against potential scammers attempting to exploit the relief rollout. Officials emphasized that legitimate administrators will never ask for confidential details such as Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), or one-time passwords, advising citizens to use official USSD codes or contact the official NERSI helpline at 0700-022-2222 if they receive suspicious messages.

The introduction of the monthly cash relief package marks the third major economic support announcement by the Nigerian government within a single month amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures. Previous measures included a temporary 30-day fuel discount at specific filling stations and a proposed transport allowance for workers that sparked recent discussions among labor organizations.