The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against paying agents or sharing their banking details to access its new ₦50,000 monthly cash transfer scheme for vulnerable households.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, said eligible beneficiaries would not be required to apply, pay fees or register through agents to receive the support.
Doro announced that payments had commenced under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), a presidential programme designed to cushion the effects of rising living costs on vulnerable Nigerians.
Under the initiative, eligible households will receive ₦50,000 monthly to help meet essential needs and ease financial pressure caused by rising food prices and the cost of other basic goods.
The minister said beneficiaries would receive text messages from approved digital financial service providers seeking their consent to participate in the payment process.
He explained that the messages were genuine and that payments would be made directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts or mobile wallets after consent had been obtained.
Doro said the intervention would be reviewed regularly in response to changes in the cost of living, with beneficiaries notified directly before any adjustment to the payments.
He added that the ministry was working with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure secure, timely and transparent disbursement.
The minister cautioned beneficiaries against disclosing their personal identification numbers or Bank Verification Numbers to anyone claiming to facilitate the payments.
He advised Nigerians who were uncertain about messages they received or were asked to pay to access the scheme to contact the NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222 for clarification.
Doro said the programme would complement existing social protection and economic support initiatives, adding that the government was committed to delivering assistance with “dignity, transparency and accountability”.
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