The programme, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is designed to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households struggling with the rising cost of living across the country.
Managed by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the intervention provides a one-time grant of N50,000 to selected beneficiaries through mobile wallets operated by five approved payment service providers.
According to frequently asked questions published on the programme’s official website and sighted by PUNCH Online, the government clarified that the financial assistance is a grant, not a loan, and beneficiaries are not required to repay the money.
The government further explained that recipients do not need smartphones or internet access to receive the funds, as the payment system supports basic mobile phones through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes.
How the N50,000 Grant Works
Under the NERSI programme, each selected beneficiary is entitled to receive N50,000, with the full amount credited to their mobile wallet without deductions.
The government emphasised that no portion of the grant would be withheld and that beneficiaries would not be required to make any repayment.
It stated that the intervention was specifically introduced to help households manage increasing living expenses and cushion the effects of economic hardship.
Who Qualifies and How Beneficiaries Are Selected?
The Federal Government disclosed that beneficiaries were selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
It explained that individuals cannot independently apply for the grant or pay anyone to secure a place on the beneficiaries’ list.
According to the government, selection is based on identified needs, with beneficiaries drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, political affiliation or state of origin.
The programme also clarified that the intervention is not restricted to any particular state or social group.
However, payments are being disbursed in phases, meaning that selected individuals will receive notifications at different times. Consequently, the absence of an immediate notification does not necessarily mean that an individual has been excluded from the programme.
How Beneficiaries Will Receive Notifications
The government said selected beneficiaries would receive text messages from one of five approved payment providers: ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
The notification will inform recipients of their selection and provide instructions, including a USSD code through which they can accept the grant.
Beneficiaries can also dial the relevant USSD code provided by their payment service provider and follow the instructions to check their eligibility.
The government advised recipients to pay attention to the sender’s identity, stressing that legitimate notifications would originate from the official sender names of the approved payment providers.
Steps to Accept the N50,000 Grant
Receiving a notification does not automatically mean the money has been credited to a beneficiary’s wallet.
The government explained that selected individuals must first accept the offer by dialling the USSD code contained in the notification and following the instructions.
Once the acceptance process is completed, a mobile wallet will be opened for the beneficiary, and the N50,000 grant will be credited. A confirmation text message will subsequently be sent.
The government stressed that payment would not be processed until the beneficiary formally accepts the offer.
It therefore encouraged selected recipients to complete the acceptance process promptly after receiving their notifications.
Beneficiaries who mistakenly reject the offer can dial the code again and select the affirmative option if they wish to change their decision.
Can Beneficiaries Without Smartphones Access the Money?
The Federal Government assured Nigerians that owning a smartphone or having access to the internet is not a requirement for receiving the grant.
According to the programme’s guidelines, a basic mobile phone is sufficient because the USSD payment codes operate without an internet connection.
However, beneficiaries using MoMo PSB, OPay and Moniepoint can also access their mobile wallets through the respective providers’ official applications.
How to Withdraw the N50,000
Beneficiaries can withdraw their funds through Point of Sale (POS) agents by transferring money from their mobile wallets to the agents and collecting the equivalent amount in cash.
The approved payment providers also offer different withdrawal and transfer options.
ALAT beneficiaries can dial 94523Account NumberAmount# to transfer funds to POS agents or their personal bank accounts. They can also visit any Wema Bank branch.
MoMo PSB customers can visit authorised agents, 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 the USSD code 95520# or the provider’s mobile application, while Moniepoint beneficiaries can dial 557327# or access their funds through the Moniepoint application.
The government also clarified that beneficiaries are not required to withdraw the entire N50,000 at once. They can withdraw part of the money and leave the remaining balance in their mobile wallets.
Recipients can equally transfer their funds to personal bank accounts or other beneficiaries through the available payment channels.
Are There Charges for Accessing the Grant?
The government stated that accepting the grant, receiving the money and responding to programme-related text messages are free.
It warned beneficiaries against paying individuals who claim they can facilitate their selection, accelerate payment or help them access the funds.
However, the government acknowledged that POS operators may charge their regular service fees when beneficiaries withdraw cash. Recipients were advised to confirm the applicable charges before completing transactions.
What to Do If You Have Not Received an SMS
The programme explained that beneficiaries are being contacted in batches because payments are being made in phases.
Therefore, individuals who have not received text messages should not immediately assume they have been excluded.
They can check their eligibility by dialling the appropriate USSD code provided by their payment service provider.
Nevertheless, the government acknowledged that the intervention is designed to support a limited number of households in each phase, meaning not everyone will be selected immediately.
It warned that nobody has the authority to add individuals to the beneficiaries’ list or demand money to accelerate payments.
Government Issues Fraud Warning
The Federal Government has cautioned Nigerians against fraudsters who may attempt to exploit the relief programme by demanding money or requesting confidential personal information.
It stressed that no government official, payment provider or authorised agent would request beneficiaries’ Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), One-Time Passwords (OTPs) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs).
The government further disclosed that genuine notifications would originate from the official sender names of ALAT/Wema Bank, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
It warned that legitimate programme messages would not contain links, advising recipients to avoid clicking unfamiliar links, downloading unknown applications or responding to suspicious WhatsApp messages.
The government also dismissed messages claiming that forwarding information to friends and family members would guarantee selection, describing such messages as fraudulent.
Beneficiaries were equally warned against sending money to individuals who might contact them claiming that the grant had been credited by mistake and must be refunded.
Anyone receiving suspicious calls or messages was advised to terminate the communication and contact their payment provider through its official customer service channels.
What Happens If a Beneficiary Loses a Phone or SIM Card?
The government advised beneficiaries who lose their phones or SIM cards to contact their respective payment providers immediately to secure their mobile wallets.
They should subsequently obtain replacement SIM cards bearing the same phone numbers from their network operators.
The programme assured recipients that losing a phone or SIM card would not automatically result in the loss of money in their mobile wallets.
Beneficiaries were also cautioned against disclosing their PINs and OTPs or handing over their phones to anyone claiming to offer assistance.
Official Helplines for Complaints and Enquiries
The government provided the following contact numbers for beneficiaries experiencing difficulties or seeking clarification:
- 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 Federal Government advised beneficiaries to direct questions relating to mobile wallets, transfers and withdrawals to their respective payment providers, while enquiries concerning the intervention itself should be directed to the programme’s official helpline.
The five approved payment providers are ALAT, 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; and Moniepoint, a licensed microfinance bank.
The government urged beneficiaries to rely exclusively on official communication channels and the approved payment providers, reiterating that nobody needs to pay money, click suspicious links or install unfamiliar applications to access the N50,000 relief grant.
