Nigerians who have not received any message about the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief programme can check whether they have been selected using designated mobile phone codes provided by authorised payment platforms.
The initiative, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), was introduced to provide financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households facing economic hardship.
According to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
The government explained that selected individuals will receive SMS notifications from approved financial service providers informing them of their eligibility.
However, those who have not received such messages can use the programme’s designated USSD services to check their selection status.
Importantly, checking eligibility is not the same as applying for the grant, as the government maintains that beneficiary selection is conducted independently.
How to check your NERSI ₦50,000 payment eligibility
The ministry has provided USSD codes for five approved payment platforms.
Nigerians who want to check their status can use the designated code associated with their payment provider.
The official codes published on the programme’s website are:
| Payment platform | USSD code |
|---|---|
| ALAT by Wema Bank | *945*23# |
| MoMo PSB | *671*0# |
| NairaGram | *726*00# |
| OPay | *955*20# |
| Moniepoint | *5573*27# |
According to the government, the USSD services allow individuals to check their eligibility without visiting a physical registration centre.
The codes can be used on basic mobile phones, meaning Nigerians do not need smartphones or internet subscriptions to access the service.
Steps to check if you have been selected
Nigerians seeking to confirm their selection status can follow the procedure outlined by the ministry.
First, identify the financial service provider associated with your NERSI notification, where one has been received.
Next, dial the provider’s designated USSD code using the relevant registered mobile phone number.
When the service menu appears, select the option labelled Check eligibility.
The system will then display information indicating whether the individual has been selected for the intervention.
If selected, the beneficiary should follow the provider’s instructions to accept the support.
Those who have not been selected may receive a message stating that they are currently ineligible for the relief payment.
The ministry advises beneficiaries to rely on their designated provider’s instructions rather than attempting to obtain payment through unauthorised channels.
What happens if you are selected for the ₦50,000 grant?
According to the ministry, selected beneficiaries must provide consent before receiving the financial assistance.
This may involve replying YES to an official SMS or using the provider’s USSD service to accept the payment.
Once consent is successfully recorded, a mobile wallet linked to the beneficiary’s registered phone number is used to receive the funds.
The government says the full ₦50,000 will be credited without deductions.
Beneficiaries will subsequently receive confirmation from their payment providers.
The money can be withdrawn through approved POS agents, transferred to a bank account or retained in the mobile wallet for future transactions.
The ministry clarified that the support is a grant rather than a loan, meaning recipients will not be required to repay the money.
Why you may not have received a NERSI payment SMS
The government explained that the absence of an SMS notification does not automatically mean an individual has been permanently excluded.
According to the ministry, payments are being implemented in phases, with selected beneficiaries contacted in batches.
Consequently, some individuals may receive notifications earlier than others.
The programme also supports a limited number of households at a time, meaning not everyone will be selected during the same phase.
However, the ministry has not guaranteed that individuals who are currently ineligible will be selected during subsequent payment rounds.
Nigerians are therefore advised against assuming that delayed notifications automatically indicate future eligibility.
Can someone help you get selected for NERSI?
The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against individuals claiming they can influence the selection process.
According to the ministry, no agent, government official or third party can add someone to the beneficiary list.
The programme does not require public registration, payment of application fees or submission of personal details through unofficial websites.
The ministry also warned against sharing PINs, one-time passwords and Bank Verification Numbers with individuals claiming to facilitate payment.
Nigerians who receive suspicious messages or experience difficulties checking their status can contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
Further instructions are available on the official Federal Government NERSI portal.
The government says the intervention is intended to provide relief to vulnerable households, although eligibility remains subject to the programme’s selection criteria.