FG opens 23# USSD code for Wema customers to check N50,000 NERSI grant

The Federal Government has opened a USSD route through Wema Bank’s ALAT platform for selected Nigerians to check eligibility for the N50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) grant. Beneficiaries can dial 23# on the phone number linked to their Wema Bank account to check their status and accept the payment.

The grant is free. The government says there are no application or registration fees, and it has warned Nigerians against fraudsters asking for money or banking details.

How Wema customers can check status

Wema Bank is one of five approved payment providers selected by the government to disburse the funds. The USSD option allows eligible customers to check status and accept the payment without an internet connection.

The steps are simple. Dial 23# using the mobile number linked to your Wema Bank account. Select the eligibility-check option and follow the instructions. If selected, follow the prompts to confirm acceptance of the N50,000 payment. Your mobile wallet will be activated and the funds will be credited. You will receive an SMS notification after the money has been credited.

Who qualifies for NERSI grant

The programme is coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. It targets poor and vulnerable households struggling with the rising cost of living. Beneficiaries are identified through verified national identity records and the National Social Register. The programme covers eligible households across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Having a Wema Bank or ALAT account does not automatically qualify anyone. Beneficiaries are selected by the government based on existing records. There is no public application or registration process. Payments are being made in batches, so selected beneficiaries may get notifications at different times.

Fees and fraud warning

Beneficiaries do not pay registration, activation or processing fees. Customers who withdraw through point-of-sale agents may incur normal agent withdrawal charges. The government warned that fraudsters may demand money or banking details in exchange for access to the grant. Beneficiaries should never disclose their ATM PIN, one-time password or other confidential banking information.

The government has also released a list of five approved financial service providers handling N50,000 monthly cash relief payments to vulnerable Nigerians. Eligible beneficiaries will receive SMS notifications from approved providers requesting consent before money is transferred to their bank accounts or mobile wallets, according to the minister.

What it means for consumers

The USSD option removes the internet barrier for Wema customers checking the N50,000 grant. But an account with Wema or ALAT is not a guarantee. Customers should confirm status through the official code and ignore anyone asking for payment or bank details.