ABUJA — The Federal Government has officially commenced direct monthly disbursements of ₦50,000 to millions of low-income households across the country under its National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) scheme.
The welfare package, designed under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to cushion the impact of rising food inflation and high living costs on vulnerable citizens.
Announcing the operational commencement on Friday, October 30, 2026, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, confirmed that transfers are being credited directly to verified bank accounts and mobile money wallets.
Addressing public inquiries regarding enrollment, Minister Doro warned citizens against falling prey to fraudulent third-party intermediaries and fake registration portals.
“Beneficiaries are not required to apply, pay any fee, or register through any agent to receive support. Eligible households are selected directly from authenticated social register databases,” Doro stated. “Never share your PIN, BVN, or banking credentials with anyone claiming to facilitate payments. Official communication will only come via SMS from licensed digital financial service providers seeking consent prior to credit.”
The ministry noted that a dedicated verification hotline (0700-022-2222) has been activated to address public inquiries and report extortion attempts.
The rollout represents one of the largest direct-cash social safety interventions undertaken by the administration, complementing existing targeted transport subsidies, agricultural input disbursements, and enterprise credit programs across the geopolitical zones.
