The Federal Government has explained how selected poor and vulnerable Nigerian households can receive its ₦50,000 cash grant under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI).
The intervention, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, is designed to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households struggling with rising living costs.
Under the programme, selected beneficiaries will receive ₦50,000 directly into mobile wallets operated by designated payment providers, including ALAT, MoMo, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
According to the government’s guidelines, the mobile wallet payment system is intended to ensure that funds reach beneficiaries quickly and transparently, with independent checks conducted during each payment cycle.
How to Receive the FG’s ₦50,000 Cash Grant
The government has outlined four steps selected beneficiaries must follow to access the NERSI cash grant.
1. Receive an SMS Notification
Selected beneficiaries will receive a text message from one of the programme’s designated payment providers informing them that they have been chosen to receive the ₦50,000 grant.
2. Confirm Participation
Recipients must reply YES to the notification to confirm their willingness to participate in the programme.
The guidelines make it clear that beneficiaries must provide consent before any payment can be processed.
3. Activate Your Mobile Wallet
After confirming participation, a mobile wallet will be created and linked to the beneficiary’s phone number and National Identification Number (NIN).
4. Receive and Withdraw the ₦50,000
Once the wallet has been activated, the government will credit the full ₦50,000 grant to the beneficiary’s account.
Recipients can access their money through Point of Sale (POS) agents, bank outlets or direct spending from their mobile wallets.
USSD Codes to Withdraw FG’s ₦50,000 Grant
Beneficiaries will receive additional SMS instructions from their respective payment providers after their mobile wallets have been credited.
The government has provided the following USSD codes for accessing the funds:
- ALAT (Wema Bank): Dial 94523#.
- MoMo PSB: Dial 6710#.
- NairaGram: Dial 72600#.
- OPay: Dial 95520# or use the mobile application.
- Moniepoint: Dial 557327# or use the mobile application.
Beneficiaries should follow the instructions provided by their payment providers to complete withdrawals.
How Beneficiaries Are Selected for the NERSI Grant
According to the programme’s guidelines, beneficiaries are selected using verified national identity records and information contained in the National Social Register.
The selection process is designed to identify poor and vulnerable Nigerian households that qualify for the intervention.
The government clarified that individuals cannot independently apply for the grant or pay anyone to secure a place on the beneficiary list.
It also explained that not every eligible household will necessarily be included in the first batch of beneficiaries.
Those selected will be contacted through SMS notifications from the designated payment providers.
FG Warns Nigerians Against ₦50,000 Grant Scams
The Federal Government has warned Nigerians to be cautious of fraudsters attempting to exploit the NERSI cash transfer programme.
It stressed that the ₦50,000 grant is completely free and that nobody is authorised to demand money from beneficiaries before releasing the funds.
The government outlined three ways Nigerians can identify genuine programme messages:
- Official notifications must come from ALAT, MoMo, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint.
- Recipients will only be asked to reply YES or dial the designated USSD code provided by their payment provider.
- Genuine messages will never request payment, a Personal Identification Number (PIN), a One-Time Password (OTP) or ask recipients to click a link.
Beneficiaries have also been advised not to disclose their PINs, OTPs or passwords to anyone, including payment agents and government officials.
Anyone who receives suspicious messages from unauthorised senders should ignore them and contact the programme’s helpline for clarification.
Frequently Asked Questions About the NERSI ₦50,000 Grant
What is NERSI?
The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) is a Federal Government relief programme designed to support poor and vulnerable Nigerian households facing rising living costs.
The programme is implemented by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
How much will beneficiaries receive?
Each selected beneficiary will receive ₦50,000 directly into their mobile wallet. According to the guidelines, the full amount will be credited without deductions.
Is the ₦50,000 NERSI payment a loan?
No. The payment is a Federal Government grant, not a loan. Beneficiaries are not required to repay the money.
Who is eligible for the FG’s ₦50,000 grant?
Beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
Individuals cannot independently apply for the grant or pay to be included in the beneficiary list. Selected households will receive SMS notifications from designated payment providers.
Why was I selected, and how did the government obtain my phone number?
According to the programme’s guidelines, beneficiaries are identified through information contained in the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
Their phone numbers are obtained from these records and shared with the relevant payment provider for the purpose of distributing the grant.
The government also stated that beneficiaries’ personal information would only be used for the programme.
Can I apply for the NERSI ₦50,000 grant?
No. The government says individuals cannot independently apply for the intervention. Beneficiaries are selected through the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
Will everyone receive the ₦50,000 grant at the same time?
No. The government has clarified that not everyone will be included in the first batch of beneficiaries. Only selected households will receive notifications during the relevant payment cycle.
Do I need to pay to receive the grant?
No. The programme is free. Anyone demanding money, PINs, OTPs or banking passwords in exchange for the grant should be treated as a potential fraudster.
Bottom Line: The FG’s NERSI intervention provides a ₦50,000 cash grant to selected vulnerable Nigerian households through mobile wallets. Beneficiaries should watch for official SMS notifications, confirm participation by replying YES and follow their payment provider’s instructions to access the funds. Nigerians should also remain alert to fraudulent messages and avoid sharing sensitive banking information.