FG outlines six steps for NERSI ₦50,000 grant withdrawal problems

The Federal Government has outlined six steps for Nigerians who get notifications for the ₦50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) grant but cannot withdraw the money. The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction said payment difficulties may come from incomplete acceptance procedures, wallet activation problems, network failures or unsuccessful withdrawal transactions.

The ministry advised beneficiaries to confirm their payment status before contacting their designated financial service providers. Receiving an SMS that announces selection does not automatically mean the money has been credited.

Confirm acceptance first

Step one is to establish whether the beneficiary completed the acceptance process. Beneficiaries must reply YES or dial the designated USSD code and complete the required confirmation steps. After accepting the grant, they should receive another notification confirming that their wallets have been credited.

Beneficiaries can also check balances through their providers' official USSD services or mobile applications. The government advised them not to confuse selection notifications with successful payment confirmations.

Check wallet and linked SIM

The NERSI payment wallet is linked to the beneficiary's registered telephone number and National Identification Number. Using another SIM card or telephone number may prevent access to the funds. Beneficiaries who have lost their SIM cards should contact their network operators for replacements.

Poor network coverage, temporary service interruptions and incorrect USSD codes may cause unsuccessful transactions. Beneficiaries should confirm they are using the correct provider's code and have adequate network coverage. They can retry after a short interval or contact customer support if the problem continues.

Once the money enters the wallet, beneficiaries can access it through withdrawal options supported by their providers. These may include bank transfers, authorised POS agents, participating bank branches or direct wallet payments, according to NERSI's official website. The grant is free, but normal POS withdrawal charges may apply.

Where to get help

Beneficiaries whose wallets have been credited but remain inaccessible should contact their payment providers. The five participating institutions are ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint. Recipients may need to provide transaction references through verified customer support channels.

For general complaints, the government provided the NERSI helpline, 0700-022-2222. Beneficiaries should never disclose banking PINs, passwords or one-time passwords to anyone claiming to resolve payment problems.

For beneficiaries, the practical takeaway is to use the phone number linked to their NIN and keep transaction references. The grant is free, but normal POS charges may apply when withdrawing.