Nigerians struggling with the rising cost of living may be eligible for ₦50,000 in financial assistance under a Federal Government relief programme targeting poor and vulnerable households.
The initiative, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is designed to provide direct financial support to selected households through mobile wallets, without requiring beneficiaries to visit government offices or pay registration fees.
According to information published on the official NERSI portal, the programme is being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
The government says eligible Nigerians will receive notifications through approved financial service providers, after which they can accept the payment using their mobile phones.
However, not every Nigerian will automatically qualify, and the programme does not operate an open application process.
Who qualifies for the FG’s ₦50,000 NERSI relief?
The Federal Government says the intervention is specifically targeted at poor and vulnerable households experiencing economic hardship.
Beneficiaries are selected using information contained in the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
According to the ministry, these records are screened to identify individuals and households considered eligible for financial assistance.
This means that having a National Identification Number (NIN) alone does not guarantee selection for the programme.
The government also says the intervention covers Nigerians across all six geopolitical zones, regardless of their religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
However, payments are being implemented in phases, meaning some selected beneficiaries may receive notifications earlier than others.
How Nigerians can receive the ₦50,000 NERSI payment
The ministry has outlined a four-stage process for accessing the financial support.
First, selected beneficiaries will receive an SMS notification from one of the five approved financial service providers.
The message will inform recipients that they have been selected and provide instructions for accepting the grant.
Beneficiaries must then give their consent by replying as instructed or dialling their designated provider’s USSD code.
Once the necessary steps have been completed, a mobile wallet linked to the beneficiary’s phone number and NIN will be used to receive the payment.
The government says the full ₦50,000 will be credited to the wallet, after which the recipient can withdraw the money through an authorised Point-of-Sale agent, transfer it to a bank account or spend directly from the wallet.
Five approved platforms for NERSI payments
The Federal Government has identified five financial institutions and payment platforms responsible for delivering the intervention.
They are ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo Payment Service Bank, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
Each provider has a designated USSD code through which beneficiaries can access programme services.
| Provider | Official USSD code |
|---|---|
| ALAT by Wema Bank | *945*23# |
| MoMo PSB | *671*0# |
| NairaGram | *726*00# |
| OPay | *955*20# |
| Moniepoint | *5573*27# |
The ministry says Nigerians do not need smartphones or internet subscriptions to use the USSD services.
However, beneficiaries must follow instructions from their designated payment provider rather than assuming they can receive payment through any of the five platforms.
Is the ₦50,000 NERSI payment a loan or grant?
The Federal Government has clarified that the financial support is a grant, not a loan.
This means selected beneficiaries will not be required to repay the ₦50,000 or provide collateral.
The ministry also says beneficiaries will receive the full grant amount without deductions.
However, those withdrawing cash through POS agents may be required to pay normal transaction charges.
The programme’s published FAQ does not clearly establish how many payment cycles an individual beneficiary can expect, making it important to distinguish the announced support from any promise of indefinite monthly payments.
FG warns Nigerians against fake NERSI registration links
The government has warned Nigerians against fraudsters who may attempt to exploit public interest in the programme.
According to the ministry, there is no public registration process, and no individual can add another person to the beneficiary list in exchange for money.
It also stressed that legitimate programme messages will not request beneficiaries’ PINs, passwords, Bank Verification Numbers or one-time passwords.
Nigerians have been advised to disregard suspicious WhatsApp messages, unfamiliar registration links and individuals claiming they can accelerate payments.
Anyone requiring clarification can contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
For now, Nigerians seeking assistance are advised to rely on the official programme portal and communications from authorised payment providers.
Although the intervention offers potential relief to vulnerable households, the ministry’s published information does not establish the total number of people who have received payments.