The Federal Government has cautioned Nigerians against individuals demanding money in exchange for access to its N50,000 relief grant, insisting that the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention is free and that no official or agent is authorised to collect fees from prospective beneficiaries.

The warning comes as the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction explains how recipients are selected for the programme, which was earlier announced by the Minister, Dr Bernard Doro. The ministry says the payment is a grant, not a loan, and beneficiaries are not required to repay the money.

According to the ministry, selection is based primarily on information from two national databases: the National Identification Number system managed by the National Identity Management Commission and the National Social Register, which contains details of poor and vulnerable households across the country.

The registration process begins with states identifying communities considered most affected by poverty. Trained enumerators then work with community leaders and residents to identify vulnerable households, collect their details digitally and assess them using established poverty indicators.

Households ranked within the bottom six deciles may be considered for inclusion in the National Beneficiary Register, which supports government cash transfer programmes. However, the ministry says registration on the database does not automatically guarantee payment, as further screening is required to establish eligibility.

The government says disbursements are being carried out in phases across the six geopolitical zones. It also clarified that missing the first payment batch does not amount to permanent exclusion from the programme, as further beneficiaries may be considered in subsequent phases.

The ministry has urged Nigerians to protect their personal information and disregard anyone claiming to have the power to secure a place on the beneficiary list in exchange for payment. It says only eligible people identified through the official screening process will receive the N50,000 grant.