Nigerians hoping to benefit from the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief programme have been warned against registering through unfamiliar websites or paying individuals who promise to secure their inclusion in the scheme.
The warning follows the introduction of the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), a government programme designed to provide financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households struggling with the rising cost of living.
According to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the intervention does not require interested Nigerians to complete online registration forms, submit applications through agents or pay fees to qualify.
Instead, beneficiaries are selected from existing government records, including the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
The ministry explained that eligible individuals would be contacted directly by authorised financial service providers and given instructions on how to receive their grants.
This means that anyone demanding money to register Nigerians for the ₦50,000 payment is not following the government’s official procedure.
Why Nigerians cannot register for the ₦50,000 NERSI grant
Unlike some government empowerment programmes that allow members of the public to apply through dedicated portals, NERSI uses a pre-existing beneficiary identification system.
The ministry explained that individuals are selected based on established poverty and vulnerability criteria.
The process involves screening records from the National Social Register and verified national identity databases to identify households considered eligible for financial assistance.
Consequently, Nigerians cannot simply visit a website, complete a form and expect to be included in the programme.
The government also maintained that no politician, public official or financial agent can influence beneficiary selection.
In its official clarification, the ministry stated that there is no application or registration process and that no individual or agent can influence selection.
This distinction is particularly important for Nigerians searching online for phrases such as NERSI registration portal, FG ₦50,000 grant application or how to apply for NERSI.
According to the government’s published procedures, no public application portal exists for the programme.
FG warns against fake registration links and payment agents
The ministry has cautioned Nigerians against responding to suspicious messages that claim to offer guaranteed access to the relief fund.
Such messages may direct recipients to unfamiliar websites or ask them to provide personal and financial information.
Others may demand a processing fee before a supposed beneficiary can receive payment.
However, the government says NERSI registration, acceptance and payment are free.
Beneficiaries are not required to pay money to unlock their grants, accelerate disbursement or confirm their eligibility.
The ministry also warned Nigerians against sharing their Personal Identification Numbers, Bank Verification Numbers or One-Time Passwords with individuals claiming to represent the programme.
These security details are not required by callers or agents to release the grant.
Anyone who receives such a request should discontinue the interaction and contact an authorised payment provider through its verified customer service channels.
How genuine NERSI beneficiaries will receive the ₦50,000
According to the ministry, selected beneficiaries will receive an SMS notification from an approved financial service provider.
The government has identified ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo Payment Service Bank, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint as authorised payment channels.
The notification will explain how the beneficiary can accept the financial support.
Recipients may be instructed to reply YES or dial a designated USSD code to provide consent.
Once the necessary steps have been completed, the ₦50,000 grant will be credited to a mobile wallet linked to the beneficiary’s registered phone number.
The money can subsequently be withdrawn through authorised POS agents, transferred to a bank account or used for other transactions.
The ministry clarified that the support is a grant rather than a loan, meaning beneficiaries are not required to repay the money.
What to do if someone promises to add you to NERSI
Nigerians approached by individuals claiming they can secure inclusion in the programme have been advised not to make payments.
The ministry explained that beneficiary selection is automated and cannot be manipulated by agents or third parties.
It also warned that individuals claiming they can fast-track payments in exchange for money are acting fraudulently.
Those who receive suspicious messages should avoid clicking unfamiliar links or submitting sensitive banking information.
The government has provided 0700-022-2222 as the official NERSI helpline for enquiries and complaints.
Further information is available on the Federal Government’s NERSI website.
For Nigerians hoping to benefit from the intervention, the central message is that there is no legitimate registration fee, no public application form and no guaranteed route to selection through an agent.
The programme’s success will depend partly on whether eligible households can distinguish genuine payment notifications from fraudulent offers.