The Federal Government has released detailed guidelines explaining how Nigerians selected for its N50,000 relief grant can confirm their eligibility, accept the offer, access the money and withdraw funds, while warning beneficiaries against fraudsters seeking to exploit the intervention.
The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) is designed to help vulnerable households cope with rising living costs.
The programme, managed by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, provides N50,000 to selected beneficiaries through mobile wallets operated by five approved payment providers.
According to frequently asked questions published on the programme’s website and sighted by PUNCH Online, the grant is not a loan, requires no repayment and can be accessed without a smartphone or internet connection.
The government also explained how beneficiaries were selected, how their phone numbers were obtained, how to withdraw the money and what to do when payment or access problems arise.
Here are 13 important things Nigerians need to know about the N50,000 FG relief grant.
1. What is NERSI and how much will beneficiaries receive?
The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention is a Federal Government programme established to provide financial support to households affected by rising living costs.
Under the intervention, selected beneficiaries receive N50,000 each through a mobile wallet.
The government said beneficiaries would receive the full amount without deductions.
The programme’s FAQ stated, “₦50,000. The full amount goes into your wallet. Nothing is deducted.”
It also clarified that the financial support is a grant, not a loan, meaning recipients are not expected to repay the money.
“No. It is a grant from the Federal Government. You do not pay it back,” the FAQ stated.
2. Who is eligible for the N50,000 FG grant?
According to the government, beneficiaries were selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
Individuals cannot independently apply for the grant or pay anyone to secure a place on the beneficiary list.
The programme stated, “You cannot apply, and no one can add you to the list.”
Beneficiaries were reportedly selected based on need, with representation across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
The government also explained that the intervention is not restricted to particular states or groups.
However, payments are being made in phases, meaning selected beneficiaries may receive notifications at different times.
3. Why was I selected and how did the government get my phone number?
The government explained that beneficiaries were identified through information contained in the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
Their phone numbers were obtained from the records used during the selection process.
According to the programme, beneficiaries’ personal information would only be shared with their respective payment providers for the purpose of disbursing the grant.
“Your details are shared only with your payment provider, and only so they can pay you,” the FAQ stated.
The government also assured recipients that their personal information would be protected under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
It warned that programme officials would never request sensitive banking information such as personal identification numbers (PINs), one-time passwords (OTPs) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs).
4. How will beneficiaries know they have been selected?
Selected beneficiaries will receive text messages from one of five approved payment providers:
- ALAT by Wema Bank
- MoMo PSB
- NairaGram
- OPay
- Moniepoint
The notification will inform recipients of their selection and provide a USSD code to dial to accept the grant.
An example of the notification provided by the programme reads:
“Relief! FGN has selected you to receive ₦50,000 under NERSI to help with living costs. This is FREE. Enq? Call 07000222222. Dial 94523# to accept.”
Beneficiaries can also dial their assigned provider’s USSD code and select the option for checking eligibility.
The government stressed that genuine notifications would come only from the official sender names of the approved payment providers.
5. How can beneficiaries accept the N50,000 grant?
Recipients are required to dial the USSD code contained in the notification from their assigned payment provider and follow the instructions.
The process opens a mobile wallet for the beneficiary, after which the N50,000 is credited and a confirmation text message is sent.
The government emphasised that receiving a selection notification does not automatically mean the money has been paid.
Beneficiaries must first accept the offer.
“Nothing is paid until you accept,” the FAQ stated.
The programme advised selected recipients to accept as soon as possible after receiving the notification. Payment providers may also send reminders.
Those who mistakenly reject the offer can dial the code again and select Yes if they change their minds.
However, selecting No records a rejection, and the beneficiary will not receive payment unless the decision is changed.
6. Can beneficiaries receive the grant without a smartphone or internet?
Yes. The Federal Government said beneficiaries do not need smartphones or internet access to receive the N50,000 grant.
A basic mobile phone is sufficient because the USSD codes provided by the payment providers work without an internet connection.
The programme’s FAQ stated, “No. A basic phone is enough. The codes work without the internet.”
However, customers of MoMo PSB, OPay and Moniepoint can also use their providers’ official mobile applications to access their wallets and carry out transactions.
7. How can beneficiaries withdraw the N50,000 grant?
Beneficiaries can withdraw their money through Point of Sale (POS) agents by transferring funds from their mobile wallets to the agents and collecting cash.
The five approved payment providers also offer different withdrawal and transfer options.
The government listed the following methods:
ALAT by Wema Bank: Beneficiaries can dial 94523Account NumberAmount# to transfer money to a POS agent’s account or their personal bank accounts. They can also visit any Wema Bank branch.
MoMo PSB: Customers can visit MoMo agents or POS operators, dial 6710# or use the MoMo NG application to transfer funds.
NairaGram: Beneficiaries can dial 72600# and follow the instructions to transfer money to a POS agent or bank account.
OPay: Customers can use 95520# or the official OPay application to access and transfer their funds.
Moniepoint: Beneficiaries can dial 557327# or use the official Moniepoint application.
The government clarified that recipients can withdraw the entire N50,000 or take only part of it, leaving the remaining balance in their wallets.
“Yes. You can withdraw all or part of it. The rest stays safely in your wallet,” the FAQ stated.
Beneficiaries can also transfer the money to any bank account or another person’s account through their providers’ USSD codes or applications.
8. Are there charges for receiving or withdrawing the N50,000?
The government said accepting the grant, receiving the money and responding to programme text messages are free.
Beneficiaries are not expected to pay anyone to access the intervention or secure a place on the beneficiary list.
However, POS operators may charge their usual withdrawal fees when recipients cash out.
The FAQ stated, “When you cash out at a POS agent, the agent may charge their usual withdrawal fee, as with any withdrawal. Ask for the fee before you withdraw.”
Recipients are therefore advised to confirm the applicable charges before completing a withdrawal.
9. What should beneficiaries do if they have not received an SMS?
The government advised Nigerians who have yet to receive notification messages not to automatically conclude that they have been excluded.
According to the programme, payments are being made in phases, with providers contacting selected recipients in batches.
However, not everyone will be selected in the current phase because the intervention is designed to support a limited number of households at a time.
Those who want to confirm their status can dial their assigned provider’s USSD code and select the eligibility-check option.
Individuals who are not on the list will receive a notification stating, “You are currently not selected to receive this relief support.”
The government warned that nobody can add an individual to the beneficiary list or speed up payment in exchange for money.
“No one can add you to the list or speed up your payment. Anyone who offers to do so for a fee is a fraudster,” the FAQ stated.
10. How can beneficiaries identify and avoid N50,000 grant scams?
The Federal Government warned beneficiaries against individuals claiming they can help them secure or release the N50,000 grant in exchange for payment.
It stressed that no programme official, payment provider or agent would request recipients’ PINs, OTPs or BVNs.
The government also explained that genuine messages would come only from the official sender names of ALAT/Wema Bank, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
It added that genuine messages would never contain links.
Beneficiaries were cautioned against clicking unfamiliar links, downloading unknown applications or forwarding WhatsApp messages claiming that sharing them would guarantee access to the grant.
“Chain messages are fake. Forwarding a message does not make anyone a beneficiary. Delete it,” the programme stated.
The government further warned recipients against sending money to anyone who contacts them claiming that the payment was made in error and should be refunded.
“Do not send money to anyone. This is a common trick. Call your provider’s official help line to check,” the FAQ stated.
Anyone who receives suspicious calls requesting personal information should end the call and contact their payment provider directly through its official customer service channels.
11. What happens if a beneficiary loses their phone or SIM card?
Beneficiaries who lose their phones or SIM cards are advised to contact their payment providers immediately to protect their mobile wallets.
They should then obtain replacement SIM cards bearing the same phone numbers from their network operators.
The government explained that the money would remain in the mobile wallet even if the recipient lost their phone or SIM card.
“Your money stays in your wallet,” the FAQ stated.
Beneficiaries were also warned against handing over their phones, PINs or OTPs to anyone, including trusted relatives offering to assist them.
12. What should beneficiaries do if their USSD codes stop working?
The programme advised beneficiaries to check their network signals and try again if their payment providers’ USSD codes fail to work.
If the problem persists, they should contact their respective providers through official customer service channels.
The government also urged recipients to contact their providers if they receive suspicious calls, lose their phones or need assistance protecting their wallets.
The following helplines were published by the programme:
- ALAT by Wema: 0803 900 3700
- MoMo PSB: 671 or 0803 106 7100
- NairaGram: 0201 330 0880 or 0201 330 0881
- OPay: 0700 888 8328 or 0201 888 8328
- NERSI programme helpline: 0700-022-2222
The government explained that enquiries concerning mobile wallets and payments should be directed to the respective payment providers, while questions about the intervention should be addressed to the programme’s helpline.
13. Which organisations are approved to pay the N50,000 grant?
The Federal Government identified five payment providers authorised to disburse the N50,000 relief grant.
They are:
- ALAT by Wema Bank: The digital banking platform of Wema Bank.
- MoMo PSB: A licensed Payment Service Bank.
- NairaGram: A digital money transfer service.
- OPay: A licensed mobile money operator.
- Moniepoint: A licensed microfinance bank.
The government advised beneficiaries to deal only with their assigned payment providers and use official channels when making enquiries or carrying out transactions.
It also warned against downloading unfamiliar applications, explaining that beneficiaries do not need to follow links or install unknown software to claim the grant.
The USSD codes provided by the approved payment providers are sufficient to access the funds.
Important warning to N50,000 grant beneficiaries
The Federal Government urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against fraudsters attempting to exploit the relief programme.
Beneficiaries should remember that the N50,000 support is free, does not require repayment and cannot be secured through payments to agents or intermediaries.
Recipients should never disclose their PINs, OTPs or BVNs to anyone claiming to represent the programme.
They should also verify suspicious messages and payment issues directly with their assigned providers using official customer service channels.
