Nigeria NERSI cash relief programme

The Nigerian Federal Government launched the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), a presidential programme designed to mitigate the impact of global food inflation and rising costs of essential goods. The initiative provides ₦50,000 monthly to eligible vulnerable households.

To ensure secure disbursement, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction is partnering with licensed digital financial service providers. Beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified via national identity records, requiring a valid National Identification Number (NIN). Recipients do not need to apply or pay registration fees. Instead, selected individuals are notified via SMS from approved providers such as ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay, or Moniepoint. Once notified, funds can be collected through USSD codes or smartphone apps. The government clarified that the ₦50,000 is a grant rather than a loan and does not require repayment. Payments are being released in phases, and the monthly amount may be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in the cost of living.

As the programme commences, the government has advised that a delay in receiving an SMS notification does not necessarily mean an individual has been excluded. To claim funds, selected individuals may need to confirm participation, such as by replying “YES” to an official SMS or using a provider's USSD code. Authorities have issued warnings against fraudsters, stating that no one can be added to the list for a fee and that legitimate communications will never request PINs, OTPs, or BVNs.