The federal government has said it will begin a monthly cash transfer of N50,000 to selected vulnerable households under its national emergency relief and stabilisation intervention (NERSI).
In a statement issued by the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, Bernard Doro, said the payments were meant to reduce the pressure of rising living costs on vulnerable Nigerians.
Doro stated that the beneficiaries would get an SMS from one of the network providers asking for their consent before payment is made directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
“This message is genuine. Once consent is given, payment is made directly to the beneficiary’s account/mobile wallet,” said Doro
The minister stated that NERSI complements the federal government’s existing social protection and economic support programmes.
He noted that the intervention shows the commitment of the government to providing quick relief while building household resilience and economic stability in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
“We recognise the challenges many Nigerians are facing. The ministry is committed to delivering this intervention with dignity, transparency and accountability,” he said.
Doro called on beneficiaries to be wary of fraudsters, stating that they were not required to apply, pay any fee or register through an agent to receive the support.
“Never share your PIN or BVN with anyone,” he cautioned.
He urged Nigerians who were not sure about any message or are asked to pay money to secure access to the intervention to contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
The minister said the programme would be reviewed periodically to incorporate changes in the cost of living, adding that beneficiaries would be notified directly before any adjustments were made.
According to the NERSI portal, beneficiaries are identified through verified national identity records and the national social register, with the programme targeting poor and vulnerable households.
The portal lists ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo Payment Service Bank and NairaGram as approved payment providers.
It also states that the intervention is being done in phases, implying that beneficiaries may not receive notifications at the same time.
