Nigerians who possess a National Identification Number (NIN) but have not received a notification for the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief programme may be wondering why they were not selected.
The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) provides financial assistance to selected vulnerable households through authorised digital payment providers.
However, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has clarified that possessing a NIN does not automatically qualify an individual for the grant.
According to the ministry’s official programme guidelines, beneficiary selection relies on the National Social Register and verified national identity records, with poverty and vulnerability among the determining criteria.
Here are five explanations that can help Nigerians understand why they may not have received a notification.
1. Having a NIN does not guarantee selection
The NIN is an identity verification tool.
It helps establish an individual’s identity and supports the government’s efforts to identify legitimate beneficiaries.
However, the NERSI programme is not designed to pay every Nigerian who possesses a NIN.
The ministry says beneficiaries are selected based on verified records and vulnerability criteria.
Consequently, having a valid NIN is different from being selected for the relief.
2. Selection also involves the National Social Register
The Federal Government says the National Social Register is one of the records used to identify beneficiaries.
The register is intended to support social protection programmes by providing information about poor and vulnerable households.
NERSI uses this information alongside verified identity records.
However, the ministry has not published a complete public breakdown of the screening methodology used to determine which households are selected first.
Individuals should therefore avoid assuming that a NIN alone establishes eligibility.
3. Not everyone is selected in the same phase
The government has explained that NERSI payments are made in phases.
This means some selected beneficiaries may receive messages before others.
According to the official FAQ, payment providers contact beneficiaries in batches.
A person who has not received a notification may therefore be outside the current batch.
However, the ministry also states that not everyone is selected during a particular phase.
This distinction is important because delayed notification and non-selection are not necessarily the same situation.
4. The programme supports a limited number of households at a time
Although NERSI is designed to support vulnerable Nigerians nationwide, the government says each phase covers a limited number of households.
This means the programme is not an automatic entitlement for everyone experiencing financial hardship.
The ministry says selection is based on need, regardless of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
It also states that the programme covers all six geopolitical zones.
However, the exact distribution of beneficiaries across states and local government areas has not been fully disclosed in the public FAQ.
5. Being on the records does not mean an SMS has already been sent
The ministry explains that authorised payment providers are responsible for notifying selected beneficiaries.
These providers include ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
Since notifications are issued in batches, the absence of an SMS does not automatically establish that a person’s identity record is invalid.
However, it also does not establish that the person will eventually receive payment.
The official FAQ says Nigerians can check their status through the designated provider’s USSD eligibility option.
How can Nigerians check their NERSI eligibility?
The ministry provides the following USSD codes:
| Payment provider | USSD code |
|---|---|
| ALAT by Wema Bank | *945*23# |
| MoMo PSB | *671*0# |
| NairaGram | *726*00# |
| OPay | *955*20# |
| Moniepoint | *5573*27# |
Users should follow the provider’s instructions and select the eligibility-check option where available.
A message indicating that the individual is currently not selected should not be confused with a permanent ban from every future phase.
However, it does not guarantee subsequent inclusion either.
Can Nigerians register to be included?
No.
The ministry says NERSI does not have a public application or registration process.
Individuals cannot pay to have their names included, and no agent or government official is authorised to guarantee selection.
Anyone claiming to provide special registration or priority access in exchange for money should be treated as suspicious.
For further clarification, Nigerians can contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
The central message is that a NIN helps verify identity, but NERSI selection depends on additional government records and eligibility criteria.