Nigerians who receive text messages claiming they have been selected for the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief programme have been advised to verify the sender and payment instructions before responding.
The warning comes as the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction implements the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), a financial assistance programme targeting poor and vulnerable households.
Under the arrangement, selected beneficiaries receive SMS notifications from authorised financial service providers informing them of their eligibility for the grant.
However, the ministry has warned that fraudsters may attempt to exploit the programme by sending misleading messages or requesting sensitive financial information from unsuspecting Nigerians.
According to the government’s official guidelines, genuine notifications will only come from approved payment providers and will not require beneficiaries to click unfamiliar links, disclose banking passwords or pay registration fees.
The ministry stressed that any message demanding money before releasing the ₦50,000 grant should be treated as fraudulent.
Five approved platforms that can send genuine NERSI SMS
The Federal Government has identified five financial service providers authorised to contact selected beneficiaries.
They are ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo Payment Service Bank, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
According to the ministry, these institutions are responsible for informing beneficiaries of their selection and providing instructions for accepting the financial assistance.
The government explained that genuine notifications should come through the official sender names associated with the approved providers.
A legitimate notification may inform a recipient that they have been selected for the ₦50,000 grant and provide a designated USSD code for accepting the payment.
The ministry’s official website includes an example of a message directing selected beneficiaries to dial an approved code to receive their support.
However, Nigerians should not rely solely on the appearance of a sender’s name when determining whether a message is genuine.
Where uncertainty exists, recipients should independently contact the relevant financial service provider using verified customer service information.
How to identify a genuine ₦50,000 NERSI payment message
The ministry has outlined several features that distinguish legitimate payment notifications from suspicious messages.
First, a genuine notification will come from an authorised financial service provider.
Second, the message will provide instructions for accepting the grant, usually through a designated USSD code.
Third, the notification will not demand payment or request confidential banking credentials.
According to the ministry, legitimate NERSI messages do not contain links directing beneficiaries to unfamiliar websites.
This is particularly important because fraudsters may create websites that imitate official government platforms.
Such websites could be used to collect personal information or trick visitors into disclosing sensitive banking details.
The ministry also warned Nigerians against downloading unfamiliar applications to access the grant.
Beneficiaries who prefer mobile applications should use only their payment providers’ verified official apps.
Why Nigerians should never share PIN, BVN or OTP
The Federal Government has specifically warned beneficiaries against disclosing their Personal Identification Numbers, Bank Verification Numbers or One-Time Passwords.
These details can be exploited by criminals attempting to gain unauthorised access to financial accounts.
According to the ministry, no official involved in the NERSI programme will request such information to facilitate payment.
The same warning applies to individuals who contact beneficiaries by telephone while claiming to represent an approved financial service provider.
For example, a caller may claim that the beneficiary’s payment has been approved but requires a verification code before the money can be released.
The ministry says Nigerians should reject such requests and contact their payment providers directly.
It also warned against individuals claiming that a grant was credited by mistake and demanding an immediate refund to a personal account.
Beneficiaries who receive such requests should verify the situation through their provider’s official customer service channels.
What to do after receiving a genuine NERSI SMS
According to the government, selected beneficiaries must provide consent before receiving the ₦50,000 grant.
The notification will explain the appropriate procedure, which may involve replying YES or dialling a designated USSD code.
Once the beneficiary accepts the support and completes the necessary steps, a mobile wallet linked to their registered phone number will be used to receive the funds.
The ministry explained that beneficiaries will receive another notification confirming that the money has been credited.
Recipients can subsequently check their balances through their providers’ official USSD services or mobile applications.
The government says the full ₦50,000 will be credited without deductions, although normal transaction charges may apply when withdrawing cash through POS agents.
How to report suspicious NERSI messages
Nigerians who receive suspicious notifications can contact the relevant payment provider or the programme’s official helpline.
The Federal Government has provided 0700-022-2222 as the NERSI contact number for enquiries and complaints.
The ministry also advised Nigerians to disregard WhatsApp chain messages claiming that forwarding a particular message will qualify them for payment.
According to the government, beneficiary selection is based on verified national identity records and the National Social Register, not social media participation.
This means that forwarding messages, joining WhatsApp groups or completing unofficial registration forms cannot guarantee access to the grant.
Further guidance is available on the official NERSI website.
For Nigerians receiving payment notifications, the safest approach is to verify the sender, use only official payment channels and never disclose confidential banking information.