NERSI ₦50,000 Grant: Full List of USSD Codes and Platforms to Check Eligibility

Nigerians can check eligibility for the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 NERSI grant through five digital financial service providers using USSD codes and mobile banking platforms. The payment was introduced under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention on October 30, 2026 to support vulnerable households facing rising living costs and economic hardship.

The initiative does not require applicants to fill registration forms. It uses existing beneficiary records to identify eligible Nigerians.

USSD Codes and Platforms

The five named platforms are ALAT by Wema, MoMo Payment Service Bank, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint. Their codes are: ALAT by Wema Bank *945*23#, MoMo PSB (MTN) *671*0#, NairaGram *726*00#, OPay *557*327# and Moniepoint *5573#.

The codes provide access to information about the intervention through the providers. Checking eligibility does not automatically guarantee payment because disbursement depends on beneficiary selection and verification. The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction also lists Xpress Payments as a sixth approved provider, but its USSD access details have not been published.

How Beneficiaries Are Selected

Beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records. Selected individuals receive an SMS from an approved financial institution telling them they are eligible. They must follow the instructions, provide consent and activate their designated mobile wallet before payment. For OPay customers, eligibility notifications may also appear on the app homepage. The process does not require an internet-enabled smartphone because beneficiaries can use USSD on basic phones.

Nigerians whose eligibility checks return a "NOT SELECTED" message have been advised to remain patient. Payments are being processed in phases, so some eligible beneficiaries may receive notifications later than others. A negative eligibility response does not guarantee selection in a later payment batch.

Scam Warnings and Payment Status

The government has warned Nigerians against individuals demanding registration fees or promising to influence beneficiary selection. NERSI is a grant, not a loan, and recipients are not required to repay the money. Beneficiaries should never disclose banking PINs, passwords, BVNs or one-time passwords to anyone claiming to represent the programme. Anyone seeking clarification can contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222 or visit the official NERSI information portal.

The ministry’s portal describes the payment as a one-off ₦50,000 grant, although some news reports have described it as monthly support. The payment frequency therefore requires clarification.

Separately, the Federal Government opened another opportunity through its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative, introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It offers tuition-free vocational training alongside monthly financial support for eligible participants.