Nigerians who mistakenly reject the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief payment can still accept the financial assistance by following the instructions provided by their designated payment platforms.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction disclosed this while explaining the procedures for accessing the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI).
According to the ministry, selected beneficiaries must give their consent before the grant can be credited to their mobile wallets.
Individuals who decline the payment will not receive the money unless they subsequently change their decision.
However, the government clarified that rejecting the ₦50,000 by mistake does not necessarily mean losing access to the grant permanently.
Beneficiaries who initially select NO can dial their payment provider’s designated USSD code again and choose YES to accept the support.
What happens if you reject the ₦50,000 NERSI payment?
The Federal Government explained that beneficiary consent is an important requirement under the intervention.
According to the ministry, individuals selected for the grant will receive SMS notifications from authorised financial service providers.
The messages will explain how recipients can accept or decline the support.
Beneficiaries who select YES will proceed with the payment process, while those who select NO will have their decisions recorded.
The ministry clarified that no payment will be processed until the beneficiary provides consent.
This means that individuals who decline the grant will not automatically receive the ₦50,000 in their wallets.
However, the government has provided an option for beneficiaries who accidentally reject the support or subsequently change their minds.
How to accept NERSI payment after selecting NO
According to the official programme guidelines, beneficiaries who initially decline the payment can reverse their decisions through their designated financial service providers.
The process involves dialling the relevant provider’s NERSI USSD code again.
Once the service menu appears, the beneficiary should follow the instructions and select YES to accept the financial assistance.
The government explained that the payment process can continue after the beneficiary provides the required consent.
The five approved payment providers and their codes are:
| Payment provider | USSD code |
|---|---|
| ALAT by Wema Bank | *945*23# |
| MoMo PSB | *671*0# |
| NairaGram | *726*00# |
| OPay | *955*20# |
| Moniepoint | *5573*27# |
Beneficiaries should use the code associated with their designated provider rather than responding to unfamiliar messages.
The ministry has also advised recipients to contact their providers if they experience difficulties completing the acceptance process.
Is there a deadline to accept the ₦50,000 grant?
The Federal Government has advised selected beneficiaries to accept their payments as soon as possible after receiving official notifications.
According to the ministry, payment providers may send reminders to individuals who have not responded.
However, the programme’s published guidelines do not specify a universal final deadline for accepting the grant.
This means that Nigerians should avoid relying on unverified social media messages claiming that every beneficiary must respond before a particular date.
Nevertheless, the ministry recommends prompt acceptance to avoid unnecessary delays.
Selected individuals who are uncertain about their payment status should contact their designated providers through official channels.
The government has not guaranteed that an unaccepted offer will remain available indefinitely.
How Nigerians will know their ₦50,000 has been credited
The ministry explained that beneficiaries will receive confirmation messages once their payments have been processed.
After accepting the support, 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.
Recipients can subsequently dial their providers’ designated USSD codes to check their wallet balances.
Those who use smartphones may also access supported services through their providers’ official mobile applications.
The ministry clarified that beneficiaries do not need internet connections to complete the basic USSD procedures.
Once the money has been credited, recipients can withdraw it through authorised POS agents or transfer it to bank accounts.
They may also withdraw part of the grant and leave the remaining balance in their wallets.
Can someone else accept the NERSI payment for you?
The Federal Government has warned that the financial support belongs to the selected beneficiary and should not be collected by another individual.
According to the ministry, payments are linked to beneficiaries’ registered phone numbers and verified identity records.
However, individuals who need assistance operating their phones may receive help from trusted family members.
For example, a family member may assist an elderly beneficiary in navigating the USSD menu.
Nevertheless, the beneficiary should personally enter their PIN and should never disclose sensitive security credentials.
The ministry warned against handing over phones, passwords or one-time passwords to individuals claiming they can facilitate payment.
It also stressed that no official or agent can demand such information to release the grant.
What to do if the NERSI acceptance code is not working
The ministry has provided guidance for beneficiaries who encounter difficulties using the designated USSD services.
According to the official programme FAQ, individuals should first check their mobile network connections and attempt the transaction again.
If the problem persists, they should contact their designated payment providers.
Beneficiaries who have lost their phones or SIM cards should also contact their providers immediately to protect their mobile wallets.
The ministry advised affected individuals to obtain replacement SIM cards bearing their original phone numbers from their network operators.
For general enquiries, Nigerians can contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
Further information is available on the Federal Government’s NERSI portal.
The ministry has reiterated that the programme is free and that no individual can demand payment to facilitate acceptance or release the grant.
For beneficiaries who accidentally selected NO, the key clarification is that they can return to their designated provider’s USSD service and choose YES to accept the support, subject to the programme’s applicable payment procedures.