FG names five approved providers as N50,000 NERSI grant payment begins

The Federal Government has named ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo Payment Service Bank (PSB), NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint as the five authorised providers for payment notifications under the N50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) grant. It also issued guidelines to help beneficiaries spot fake SMS as payments begin.

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction said beneficiaries will receive messages through the five providers. A message claiming to offer the grant is not proof that it is genuine.

What genuine messages look like

Selected beneficiaries will get messages informing them they are eligible and explaining how to accept the N50,000 relief support. The ministry gave an example for ALAT users: dial 23# to accept the payment. It said instructions may differ depending on the provider assigned to each beneficiary.

Genuine notifications may ask recipients to reply YES or use an approved USSD code to accept the grant. They should not demand activation fees, banking passwords, ATM PINs or one-time passwords. Messages that direct recipients to suspicious websites to claim the money should raise concern.

How to verify a payment SMS

Nigerians should check that a notification relates to an approved provider. But scammers can imitate familiar company names, so the sender's identity alone should not be treated as proof. Beneficiaries should also examine what the message asks them to do before responding.

Anyone unsure about a payment notification can confirm the instructions on the official NERSI website at https://fmhapr.gov.ng/nersi/ or call the programme helpline on 0700-022-2222.

Grant is free

The ministry stressed that the N50,000 assistance is free. Beneficiaries are not required to pay intermediaries to secure payment. It also said there is no public registration process through which individuals can buy access to the beneficiary list.

It advised recipients to protect their banking information and avoid responding to suspicious requests. The clarification is meant to help beneficiaries separate legitimate payment instructions from fraudulent messages as the relief programme continues.

The ministry has also outlined steps for beneficiaries who receive notifications but cannot withdraw their money. It said payment difficulties may come from incomplete acceptance procedures, wallet activation problems, network failures or unsuccessful withdrawal transactions.

For Nigerian businesses and consumers, the warning matters because grant payments are a fresh target for fraud. Beneficiaries should verify every message before sharing bank details or paying anyone.