Nigerians seeking to access the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief programme can now use designated USSD codes provided by five approved financial service providers to check their eligibility and receive payment.
The codes were published by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction as part of arrangements for implementing the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI).
The programme is designed to provide financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households struggling with the increasing cost of living.
According to the ministry, beneficiaries will be selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records before receiving payment notifications.
The government explained that eligible individuals can accept the grant and access their money through mobile phone services without necessarily owning smartphones or having internet access.
However, it stressed that dialling a USSD code does not automatically qualify someone for the ₦50,000 grant.
Full list of NERSI USSD codes for the ₦50,000 payment
The Federal Government has approved five payment providers for the programme.
Each institution has a designated USSD code through which selected beneficiaries can access relevant services.
The official codes are:
| Approved provider | NERSI USSD code |
|---|---|
| ALAT by Wema Bank | *945*23# |
| MoMo PSB | *671*0# |
| NairaGram | *726*00# |
| OPay | *955*20# |
| Moniepoint | *5573*27# |
The ministry explained that the codes are intended to help beneficiaries confirm their selection status, accept the support and access their mobile wallets.
Nigerians are advised to verify the codes through the official programme website rather than relying on unverified social media posts.
How to use the USSD codes to check eligibility
According to the ministry, Nigerians who have not received an SMS notification can use the approved providers’ USSD services to check their selection status.
To begin, an individual should dial the relevant provider’s code on a mobile phone.
When the service menu appears, the user should select the option labelled Check eligibility.
The system will then indicate whether the person has been selected for the intervention.
Individuals who qualify will receive instructions on how to accept the financial support.
Those who have not been selected may receive a message informing them that they are currently ineligible.
The ministry explained that payments are being processed in phases, meaning not every selected beneficiary will necessarily receive a notification at the same time.
However, it has not guaranteed that individuals who are currently ineligible will receive payments during future phases.
How to accept the ₦50,000 NERSI grant
The Federal Government says selected beneficiaries must provide consent before their payments can be processed.
This may involve replying YES to an official SMS notification or dialling the designated USSD code provided by their payment platform.
Once the beneficiary accepts the support, the payment provider will complete the necessary wallet procedures.
According to the ministry, ₦50,000 will then be credited to the beneficiary’s mobile wallet.
A confirmation message will be sent after the transaction has been completed.
Beneficiaries can subsequently use their provider’s designated USSD service or official mobile application to check their wallet balances.
The government clarified that the support is a grant rather than a loan, meaning recipients are not required to repay it.
How to withdraw the ₦50,000 through POS agents
After receiving the payment, beneficiaries can access their funds through authorised financial channels.
According to the ministry, one option is to transfer the money from the beneficiary’s mobile wallet to a POS agent, who will provide the equivalent amount in cash.
Beneficiaries may also transfer the money directly to their personal bank accounts.
For example, ALAT beneficiaries can use the Wema Bank USSD service or visit a bank branch for assistance.
MoMo PSB users can access their funds through approved agents, while OPay and Moniepoint beneficiaries can use the respective providers’ official applications or designated USSD channels.
The ministry explained that recipients are not required to withdraw the entire amount at once.
They can withdraw part of the money and leave the remaining balance in their wallets.
However, normal transaction charges may apply when withdrawing cash through POS agents.
Can Nigerians use the NERSI USSD codes without internet?
The ministry confirmed that beneficiaries do not need smartphones or internet subscriptions to use the programme’s USSD services.
This means individuals with basic mobile phones can access the relevant payment procedures.
The arrangement is intended to make the intervention accessible to vulnerable households, including those with limited access to digital banking applications.
Nevertheless, the phone number used for the programme must be associated with the beneficiary’s verified records.
Individuals experiencing technical difficulties have been advised to contact their designated financial service providers.
FG warns Nigerians against fake ₦50,000 USSD codes
The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against fraudsters circulating fake registration links and payment instructions.
According to the ministry, the NERSI programme does not require beneficiaries to register through third-party websites or pay fees to receive their money.
It also stressed that legitimate payment providers will not request beneficiaries’ PINs, passwords, Bank Verification Numbers or one-time passwords.
Nigerians should therefore avoid responding to suspicious messages requesting such information.
Anyone uncertain about a payment notification can contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
Further information, including the approved payment codes, is available on the Federal Government’s NERSI website.
The ministry maintains that beneficiary selection is based on verified government records and cannot be influenced by individuals offering paid registration or payment assistance.