El-Donai Enema
Thursday, November 5, 2026
Nigerians cannot apply for the Federal Government’s N50,000 monthly emergency cash relief, as beneficiaries are selected from existing government records.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction disclosed this on the website of the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), explaining that beneficiaries are identified through verified national identity records and the National Social Register rather than public applications.
According to the ministry, selected households undergo screening to determine their eligibility based on their poverty and vulnerability status.
It added that payments are made through mobile wallets linked to each beneficiary’s phone number and National Identification Number (NIN).
The clarification follows questions from Nigerians seeking to understand why they have not been selected for the programme. Some have reportedly turned to banks and fintech platforms to check their eligibility. OPay, for instance, has announced that customers can verify their status through its USSD code and mobile application.
The ministry also warned the public against individuals demanding payment for registration or claiming to have the influence to secure a place on the beneficiary list.
It explained that the programme is designed to provide financial support to vulnerable households amid the rising cost of living.
