FG explains delay in N50,000 NERSI payment, gives USSD codes to check eligibility

The Federal Government has said Nigerians who have not received an SMS for the N50,000 NERSI relief payment should not assume they have been left out. It said payments are being released in phases, so selected beneficiaries may get their messages at different times.

The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), managed by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, provides N50,000 grants to selected vulnerable households to help them cope with rising living costs. Beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.

Why some beneficiaries have no SMS yet

The government said there are two possible reasons a Nigerian may not have received a notification. First, payments are being processed in batches and approved providers contact beneficiaries in phases. Some eligible individuals may still be waiting for their messages. Second, the programme supports a limited number of households at a time, so not everyone will be selected in the current phase.

Selection is based on need and covers beneficiaries across the six geopolitical zones. Those who are not selected will receive a notification stating: "You are currently not selected to receive this relief support." Beneficiaries who qualify will receive an official SMS explaining how to accept the N50,000 payment.

How to check eligibility with USSD codes

Nigerians can check their eligibility by dialling the USSD code of their payment provider and selecting the eligibility-check option. The five approved providers and their codes are:

ALAT by Wema Bank: 23#
MoMo PSB: 0#
NairaGram: 00#
OPay: 20#
Moniepoint: 327#

Fraud warning and help lines

The government warned that nobody can add a person to the beneficiary list or speed up payment for a fee. Nigerians should avoid individuals claiming they can secure selection or arrange payment in exchange for money. The programme is free, and beneficiaries should never share their personal identification numbers (PINs), one-time passwords (OTPs) or bank verification numbers (BVNs).

For enquiries about NERSI, Nigerians can call the help line on 0700-022-2222. They can also contact their payment providers directly: ALAT by Wema on 0803 900 3700; MoMo PSB on 671 or 0803 106 7100; NairaGram on 0201 330 0880 or 0201 330 0881; OPay on 0700 888 8328 or 0201 888 8328.

Nigerians should rely on official notifications and payment channels rather than messages or calls from unverified individuals. The N50,000 grant is direct cash support, but the phased release means eligible households may not all receive alerts at the same time.

Separately, the government has outlined the application process for affordable financing under the Credit for Laptops, Internet, Connectivity, and Knowledge Digital Devices (C.L.I.C.K.D.) Programme. The initiative, launched through the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), is designed to improve access to digital devices by providing consumer credit to eligible Nigerians for laptops, smartphones, tablets and other digital devices.