Nigerians living in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and other parts of the country are eligible to be considered for the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief programme, as authorities have clarified that the intervention is not restricted to particular states or regions.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction explained that the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) covers all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
According to the ministry, beneficiaries are selected based on poverty and vulnerability criteria rather than their state of origin, religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
The government also clarified that payments are being implemented in phases, meaning selected beneficiaries in different parts of the country may receive notifications at different times.
However, living in a state covered by the programme does not automatically guarantee payment, as individuals must first meet the eligibility requirements.
Is the ₦50,000 NERSI relief available in all 36 states?
The Federal Government has confirmed that the intervention covers Nigerians across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
These are the North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East and South-South.
The ministry explained that the programme is intended to support poor and vulnerable households regardless of their geographical location.
This means residents of Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Enugu, Oyo, Borno, Benue and other states may be considered for the financial assistance.
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are also within the national geographical scope of the programme.
However, the ministry has not published a detailed state-by-state list showing the number of selected beneficiaries or the amount disbursed in each location.
Consequently, the government’s confirmation of nationwide coverage should not be interpreted as proof that payments have already reached every state or local government area.
Which geopolitical zones are covered by NERSI?
According to the ministry, beneficiary selection extends across all six geopolitical zones.
The North-West comprises Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
The North-East includes Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba.
The North-Central covers Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau, while the Federal Capital Territory is commonly grouped with the zone for administrative and geopolitical purposes.
The South-West comprises Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.
The South-East includes Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
The South-South covers Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers.
The ministry maintains that the programme’s selection process is based on need rather than regional or political considerations.
However, it has not provided publicly verifiable figures showing how many beneficiaries have been selected in each zone.
Why some states may receive NERSI payment SMS earlier
The government explained that payments are being processed in phases, with authorised financial service providers contacting selected beneficiaries in batches.
This means that individuals in one location may receive notifications before others in a different state.
According to the ministry, the programme supports a limited number of households at a time.
As a result, some eligible Nigerians may not be contacted during the initial phase.
The ministry also clarified that not everyone will qualify for the financial assistance.
Beneficiaries are identified using the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
These records are screened using established poverty and vulnerability criteria.
Consequently, differences in notification timing do not necessarily mean that one state has been excluded from the intervention.
The ministry has not announced a definitive payment timetable for every state.
Can Nigerians living in Lagos or Abuja apply for the ₦50,000?
The Federal Government has clarified that NERSI does not operate a public application or registration process.
This means residents of Lagos, Abuja or any other part of the country cannot secure payment simply by completing an online form.
According to the ministry, beneficiaries are selected through existing government records.
The process is intended to identify households considered eligible for financial assistance.
The government also maintained that no politician, public official or third party can add individuals to the beneficiary list.
Nigerians have therefore been warned against paying anyone who promises to register them or secure their inclusion.
The ministry stressed that beneficiary selection, acceptance and payment are free.
How Nigerians in different states can check NERSI eligibility
The government explained that selected beneficiaries will receive SMS notifications from approved financial service providers.
These include ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
Individuals who have not received notifications can use the designated providers’ USSD services to check their selection status.
The official codes are:
| Provider | NERSI USSD code |
|---|---|
| ALAT by Wema Bank | *945*23# |
| MoMo PSB | *671*0# |
| NairaGram | *726*00# |
| OPay | *955*20# |
| Moniepoint | *5573*27# |
According to the ministry, users can select the eligibility-checking option after dialling the relevant code.
Those who have been selected will receive instructions on how to accept the support.
However, individuals who are not on the beneficiary list will receive a message indicating that they are currently ineligible.
The ministry has not guaranteed that people excluded from one phase will automatically qualify during subsequent phases.
How selected Nigerians will receive the ₦50,000
Once selected, beneficiaries will receive instructions from their designated financial service providers.
They must provide consent before payment can be processed.
The government says the full ₦50,000 will subsequently be credited to a mobile wallet linked to the beneficiary’s registered phone number.
Recipients can withdraw the money through authorised POS agents, transfer it to bank accounts or spend directly from their wallets.
The ministry clarified that the support is a grant rather than a loan, meaning beneficiaries are not required to repay it.
However, normal transaction charges may apply when withdrawing cash through POS agents.
The government also warned beneficiaries against disclosing their PINs, Bank Verification Numbers or One-Time Passwords to individuals claiming to facilitate payment.
For enquiries, Nigerians can contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222 or visit the official NERSI portal.
The ministry’s position is that the ₦50,000 intervention has nationwide coverage, but actual payment depends on selection and the programme’s phased rollout.