The Federal Government has clarified the difference between the Household Prosperity and Empowerment (HoPE-CT) cash transfer and the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI).
HoPE-CT provides eligible households with ₦75,000 in three tranches of ₦25,000. It supports poor and vulnerable households.
NERSI, announced on October 30, 2026, is a separate relief initiative. Official information says selected beneficiaries receive ₦50,000 as a one-off payment, not monthly. The money is sent to a mobile wallet after beneficiaries consent.
Reports of ₦20,000 NERSI SMS messages should be treated cautiously. Official information does not confirm that ₦20,000 is a first tranche of a monthly ₦50,000 payment. Verify unclear messages through official channels.
NERSI messages come from ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo PSB or NairaGram. Recipients are asked to reply YES or use their provider’s USSD code. The programme is free. Never share your PIN, one-time password (OTP) or bank details, or pay anyone to register or release funds.
How to benefit
Beneficiaries are selected from verified national identity records and the National Social Register based on vulnerability. People cannot apply online or pay to be added. For applicable programmes, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) and state structures support registration and targeting. If selected for NERSI, you will receive an SMS message from an approved provider. Follow its instructions to consent.