Nigerians who receive credit notifications for the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief programme but cannot withdraw their money have been advised to verify their wallet balances and contact the relevant payment providers.
The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) provides financial assistance to selected vulnerable Nigerians through authorised digital wallets.
According to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, beneficiaries can withdraw their money through POS agents, transfer it to bank accounts or spend directly from their wallets.
However, some recipients have reportedly experienced difficulties accessing funds after receiving payment-related notifications.
Here are five practical steps beneficiaries can take when their money appears to have arrived but cannot be accessed.
1. Confirm that the message is a genuine credit notification
The first step is to distinguish between a selection SMS and an actual payment alert.
According to the official NERSI FAQ, selected beneficiaries first receive messages informing them of their eligibility.
They must then follow the prescribed instructions to accept the support.
The ministry says beneficiaries receive a further notification when the money is credited.
Consequently, an SMS announcing selection should not be treated as proof that the wallet already contains ₦50,000.
Beneficiaries should confirm the nature of the message before attempting a withdrawal.
2. Check the wallet’s available balance
The next step is to verify the balance through the designated provider.
The government has approved five payment platforms for the programme.
They are ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
The ministry lists the following USSD codes:
| Provider | Code |
|---|---|
| ALAT | *945*23# |
| MoMo PSB | *671*0# |
| NairaGram | *726*00# |
| OPay | *955*20# |
| Moniepoint | *5573*27# |
Beneficiaries should use the code for their designated provider and follow the relevant instructions.
Where the provider offers an official application, users may also check their balances through that channel.
3. Check whether the withdrawal or transfer failed
A beneficiary may have funds in a wallet but encounter a problem while attempting to transfer or withdraw them.
The ministry advises users whose USSD codes are not working to check their network connection and try again.
However, repeated transaction attempts should be approached carefully.
Beneficiaries should verify whether an earlier transaction was completed before initiating another transfer.
This can help prevent confusion about multiple payment attempts.
If the transaction remains unsuccessful, the provider should be contacted for assistance.
4. Contact the designated payment provider
The government says wallet and payment complaints should first be directed to the relevant financial service provider.
Beneficiaries should explain the problem and provide appropriate transaction details.
The official NERSI website lists customer support numbers for several providers.
These include ALAT by Wema Bank on 0803 900 3700, MoMo PSB on 671 or 0803 106 7100, and NairaGram on 0201 330 0880 or 0201 330 0881.
OPay users can contact 0700 888 8328 or 0201 888 8328.
Moniepoint users should obtain the current official support contact through the provider’s verified application or website.
Beneficiaries should never disclose their PIN or OTP while reporting a problem.
5. Escalate unresolved complaints through the NERSI helpline
If the provider cannot resolve the issue, beneficiaries can seek further guidance through the programme’s official support channel.
The NERSI helpline is 0700-022-2222.
Recipients should retain the relevant notification, transaction reference and details of any previous complaint.
They should explain whether the problem involves a missing credit, unavailable balance or failed withdrawal.
These distinctions may help the support team understand the issue.
SERAP raises concerns about inaccessible payments
Payment access complaints have also become a matter of public accountability.
According to Premium Times, SERAP asked the Federal Government to investigate reports of beneficiaries receiving payment notifications without being able to access or withdraw the funds.
The organisation also requested clearer information about payment verification and complaint resolution.
These concerns underline the importance of distinguishing between notifications, confirmed credits and funds actually available for use.
Can beneficiaries transfer the money instead of withdrawing cash?
Yes.
The ministry says recipients may transfer their funds to a bank account through their payment provider.
They may also withdraw only part of the grant and leave the remainder in the wallet.
However, beneficiaries should confirm the available balance and applicable transaction charges before proceeding.
The government says the full ₦50,000 is credited without deductions, although ordinary POS withdrawal fees may apply.
Beneficiaries should never pay unofficial agents to unlock their wallets or release their money.