How OPay customers can check FG’s N50,000 NERSI grant status

OPay customers can now check whether they have been selected for the Federal Government’s N50,000 relief grant through the OPay app or by dialling *955*20#. The grant is being paid under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), a programme coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

The N50,000 is meant for selected vulnerable households to cushion the impact of economic hardship. OPay is one of the payment providers handling disbursement, but the government has made clear that owning an OPay account does not automatically guarantee selection.

How selection works

Beneficiaries are identified through verified national identity records and the National Social Register. They are not selected through applications submitted directly to payment providers. That means an OPay account alone does not put anyone on the beneficiary list.

OPay customers can verify their status in two ways. Smartphone users should log in to the official OPay app and check for notifications linked to the Federal Government’s N50,000 intervention. Where a notification appears, customers should follow the displayed instructions to confirm status and complete any required acceptance process.

Customers without internet access can dial *955*20# using the telephone number linked to their OPay account. They should follow the prompts and select the eligibility-check option where available. The service allows them to check status without visiting a physical banking location.

Consent and payment

According to the NERSI programme portal, successful beneficiaries will receive an SMS from their designated payment provider. For OPay customers, the notification should contain instructions for accepting the assistance. Recipients must give consent before disbursement can proceed. Their mobile wallets will then be activated or linked to their registered telephone numbers and National Identification Numbers (NIN).

A selection notification does not mean payment has been completed. Beneficiaries are expected to receive a separate confirmation once the N50,000 has been credited. They can also check their wallet balances and transaction histories.

Nigerians who have not received selection messages should not assume they have been permanently excluded. The Federal Government said beneficiaries are being contacted in batches and payments are processed in phases. Some eligible people may receive notifications later than others. Selection is still limited, and those excluded from the current phase are not guaranteed payment in later rounds.

No fees, no agents

The government has warned against agents or individuals demanding money to facilitate selection or speed up disbursement. NERSI is a grant, not a loan. Successful beneficiaries do not repay the N50,000. No registration or processing fee is required.

OPay customers should avoid suspicious links and never disclose their account PINs, passwords or one-time passwords to anyone claiming to represent the programme. Moniepoint, OPay and other financial service providers are providing channels for customers to check eligibility under NERSI.

The clarity matters for wallet users and small businesses relying on cash transfers. Beneficiaries should watch official app notices and USSD prompts, not pay agents or share sensitive account details.