FG explains why Nigerians do not need to register for the N50,000 NERSI grant

The Federal Government has explained how vulnerable Nigerians will be selected for the N50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) grant. Selected beneficiaries will get SMS notifications from authorised payment providers with instructions on how to collect the money.

The ministry made the clarification in a statement signed by Kingsley O. Onuoha, Director of Information and Public Relations. It answered six frequently asked questions on eligibility, the amount payable and how the funds will be accessed.

How beneficiaries are picked

Selection is drawn from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, using poverty and vulnerability criteria. The exercise covers all six geopolitical zones.

The government stressed that there is no application or registration process. No individual or agent can influence who gets selected. Selection is automated and based on the established eligibility criteria.

Each selected beneficiary gets N50,000 as a federal government grant. The full amount is credited without deductions. It is not a loan, and beneficiaries will not be required to repay it.

How the money reaches beneficiaries

Those selected will receive an SMS from one of the authorised digital financial service providers. The message contains instructions on how to accept the support. This may involve replying "YES" or dialling the provider's designated USSD code to give consent and access the money.

The approved payment platforms and their USSD codes are:

ALAT by Wema Bank: 94523#
MoMo PSB: 6710#
NairaGram: 72600#
OPay: 95520#
Moniepoint: 557327#

Once consent is given, the N50,000 is credited directly to the beneficiary's mobile wallet. The ministry added that beneficiaries can use the USSD services without a smartphone or internet connection.

No fees, no links, no agents

The government warned that beneficiaries are not required to pay any fee, register through an agent or click a link to receive the support. Genuine notifications come only from the authorised payment providers listed.

Nigerians were advised never to disclose their Personal Identification Number (PIN), One-Time Password (OTP) or Bank Verification Number (BVN) to anyone. Anyone demanding money in exchange for the grant is attempting to commit fraud, the ministry warned.

For enquiries or complaints, beneficiaries can contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222. The ministry said the intervention would be delivered with transparency, accountability and dignity, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

Earlier, MTN's MoMo Payment Service Bank said it is supporting NERSI by providing a secure digital channel for the disbursement of funds to eligible beneficiaries, and explained how selected Nigerians can receive their payments through its platform.

For Nigerians waiting on the grant, the message is simple: nobody should pay to be included, and any SMS asking for a PIN, OTP, BVN or a processing fee is not from the government.