By Gbayesola Samuel

Following the Federal Government’s announcement of a N50,000 relief support programme for vulnerable Nigerians, concerns have emerged over its legitimacy, particularly amid the circulation of fraudulent websites claiming to offer access to the intervention.

Although the government has confirmed the existence of the programme, some of the websites circulating online are designed to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians and obtain their personal and financial information.

This explainer examines what the programme entails, who qualifies for the support, how beneficiaries will receive the money and how to identify potential scams.

What is NERSI?

The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) is a Federal Government relief programme designed to help vulnerable households cope with rising living costs. It is administered by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

Is the N50,000 support real?

On October 30, 2026, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), a presidential initiative aimed at providing immediate financial relief to vulnerable Nigerians.

According to him, the initiative is designed as a “shock-responsive cash transfer programme” to provide relief to households affected by global food inflation and the rising cost of essential goods.

In his statement, Doro said eligible beneficiaries would receive N50,000 monthly to help meet essential needs and ease the burden of rising living costs. He added that the initiative would be reviewed regularly in response to changes in the cost of living, with beneficiaries to be notified directly before any adjustments.

The Ministry also confirmed that the programme would be implemented in collaboration with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure the secure delivery of funds.

Who qualifies for the support, and do you need to apply?

According to the programme’s official information page, beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.

The Ministry’s announcement also clarified that beneficiaries are not required to apply, pay any fee or register through an agent to receive the support.

The programme’s official website states: “You cannot apply, and no one can add you to the list. If you have been selected, your provider will send you an SMS.”

Selected beneficiaries will receive a text message from one of the approved digital financial service providers requesting their consent before payment is made. Once consent is given, the money will be credited directly to their account or mobile wallet.

So, do you need to apply? No. Beneficiaries are selected through existing records, and there is no public registration portal for the intervention.

How do phishing websites operate?

Despite the existence of the government programme, concerns have emerged over fraudulent websites claiming that Nigerians can apply for or access the N50,000 relief support.

A phishing website is a fraudulent website designed to deceive visitors into providing sensitive personal or financial information. Such websites are often created to obtain information that can be exploited for financial fraud or identity theft.

On Thursday, November 5, 2026, a review of one of the fraudulent websites circulating online showed that it used the Federal Government’s identity and the NERSI programme’s name to make its offer appear legitimate. Visitors are required to provide their bank names and account numbers. They are subsequently asked for their names and phone numbers, instructed to share the page with five WhatsApp groups or 15 friends, and then directed to complete a supposed human verification process. As of the moment of this filling, the website alongside similar sites are still live.

What should you do if you have submitted your details to a suspicious website?

Anyone who has submitted personal or financial information to a suspicious website should take immediate steps to protect their accounts and personal information.

If you submitted your banking details, contact your bank through its official customer service channels and explain what happened. Ask for guidance on securing your account.

On incidents when you disclosed your PIN, password, card details or OTP, you are expected to notify your bank immediately, change compromised passwords while requesting that affected cards or banking access be blocked where necessary. You can also report suspected financial fraud to your bank and the appropriate law enforcement authorities.