FG Announces N50,000 cash support for vulnerable Nigerians under new relief programme

By Diden Abigail Owuntarose

The Federal Government has announced a N50,000 cash support programme for vulnerable Nigerians under its newly introduced National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), aimed at easing the impact of rising living costs on households.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the initiative in a statement on Friday, October 30, 2026, describing it as a presidential intervention designed to provide immediate financial assistance to millions of vulnerable households across the country.

According to the minister, eligible beneficiaries are expected to receive ₦50,000 monthly to help them meet essential needs amid rising food prices and the increasing cost of basic goods and services.

Doro explained that the ministry would work with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure that payments reach beneficiaries securely and directly through their bank accounts or mobile wallets.

He said selected beneficiaries would receive text messages requesting their consent before payments are processed, adding that the programme would be reviewed periodically in response to changes in the cost of living.

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The minister stressed that beneficiaries would not be required to submit applications, pay registration fees or engage agents to access the support.

He also warned Nigerians against fraudsters who might attempt to exploit the programme, advising beneficiaries never to disclose their personal identification numbers (PINs) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) to anyone.

For enquiries or verification of suspicious messages, the ministry provided an official helpline, 0700-022-2222.

The NERSI initiative is expected to complement existing social protection programmes and strengthen household resilience as the government seeks to address the economic pressures facing low-income Nigerians.

However, details on the total number of beneficiaries, the programme’s overall funding and the full implementation schedule have yet to be clearly established.

There is also a clarification to be made: Although the minister’s October 30 announcement describes the ₦50,000 payment as monthly, the programme’s official website currently describes the support in its frequently asked questions as a one-off payment. The ministry needs to clarify this difference for prospective beneficiaries.