N50,000 NERSI: OPay explains how to check and access funds

OPay has released guidance for Nigerians who want to know whether they were selected for the Federal Government’s N50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI). Selected beneficiaries are paid through approved financial service providers, including mobile money operators such as OPay.

The programme is a federal government intervention to provide direct financial support to vulnerable households dealing with rising living costs. OPay said eligibility decisions rest with the relevant government authorities, not the payment platform.

How to check on OPay

OPay said eligible customers may get a notification inside the OPay app confirming selection for the N50,000 cash support. To check, open the OPay app, log in with registered details, and look for a notification or pop-up linked to NERSI. Customers who see it should follow the in-app instructions.

Customers can also check through OPay’s USSD service by dialing *955*20# from the phone number linked to their account. Follow the prompts and select the eligibility-check option. If selected, the prompts will guide the user through the acceptance process.

According to the Federal Government, the N50,000 is credited to a beneficiary’s mobile wallet after consent and completion of the required acceptance steps. Payments are being made in phases, so some eligible households may get notifications later than others.

No fee, no fresh registration

The Federal Government said it identifies beneficiaries using verified national identity records and the National Social Register. No fresh registration is needed, and no fee is required to access the payment.

OPay warned that customers who have not received a notification should not assume they have been selected. They should not pay anyone claiming to arrange their inclusion.

The company also raised concerns about fraudsters targeting the scheme. OPay said it will never ask customers for their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) or One-Time Passwords (OTPs) in connection with NERSI payments. Customers were advised not to click suspicious links or share confidential banking details.

Nigerians with questions about the programme can call the NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.

Earlier reports said Moniepoint had clarified how the Federal Government obtains the phone numbers of Nigerians selected for the N50,000 monthly cash support under the National Economic Recovery and Support Initiative (NERSI), as payment notifications begin reaching beneficiaries. The government draws its beneficiary list from the National Social Register and verified national identity records under the programme guidelines.

What it means for users

The guidance gives OPay customers a clear route to confirm status without paying agents or using unofficial links. It also puts the focus on verified identity records and the National Social Register, which may reduce confusion around a programme that is being paid in phases.