Nigeria begins monthly N50,000 household relief grants

Nigeria’s Federal Government says it has begun disbursing monthly N50,000 grants to poor and vulnerable households under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention, known as NERSI. Humanitarian Affairs Minister Bernard Doro announced the programme’s commencement on October 30, 2026. Payments are being made in phases across the country’s six geopolitical zones, according to government and programme information. The ministry says recipients are selected using verified identity records and the National Social Register, followed by further screening. A valid National Identification Number, or NIN, and inclusion in the register are eligibility requirements, but being listed does not guarantee payment. The specific additional screening criteria have not been detailed in the ministry’s explanation. The National Social Register contains information on poor and vulnerable households and is coordinated by the National Social SafetyNets Coordinating Office. The ministry says states identify poor communities, after which trained enumerators work with residents and community leaders to identify households. Those households are registered digitally and assessed using...