Nigeria starts ₦50,000 monthly cash payments to vulnerable households
No forms, fees or agents are needed, the minister says. Beneficiaries get a text first, and should never share their PIN or BVN.
Abuja — Nigeria's federal government has begun paying ₦50,000 a month to vulnerable households under a new programme, the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), the humanitarian affairs minister, Bernard Doro, said on Friday.
He said the presidential initiative responds to global food inflation and the rising cost of essentials, and that the amount will be reviewed periodically.
How it works
- Licensed digital finance providers will text beneficiaries asking for consent, then pay into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.
- There is nothing to apply for, no fee and no agent to register with.
Beware of fraudsters
Doro warned Nigerians never to give anyone their PIN or Bank Verification Number. "If you are unsure about any message, or anyone asks you for money, call the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222," he said.
Source: Premium Times, 30 October 2026.
