OPay, Moniepoint explain how NERSI N50,000 beneficiaries can fix blocked wallets

Nigerians selected for the Federal Government's N50,000 NERSI relief grant may find their OPay or Moniepoint wallets restricted when they try to access the money. Both payment providers have now published guidance on how beneficiaries can resolve wallet access problems through official support channels.

The grant is being disbursed under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), a programme run by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to support vulnerable households. Beneficiaries receive the N50,000 through approved payment providers after accepting the offer through designated USSD codes.

What Moniepoint users should know

Moniepoint has released guidance for beneficiaries who see the error message, "You are not permitted to perform this operation", when they dial the NERSI USSD code, 327#. The company advises customers to wait briefly before trying again.

If the error appears a second time, Moniepoint says this means the customer is not authorised to receive the relief payment and may not qualify for the programme. That is different from an actual wallet restriction.

Beneficiaries who cannot log in to their Moniepoint accounts or carry out normal transactions should contact the company through its official support channels. Customers should not share their PIN, OTP or password with anyone claiming they can resolve the problem.

How OPay customers can get help

OPay customers facing wallet access problems should contact the company through its official app or verified customer service lines. They should explain the nature of the problem, provide relevant transaction details and follow the instructions from the support team.

Customers should also check whether the restriction affects their entire wallet or only the NERSI grant process. OPay has made clear that it does not determine who qualifies for the grant. That decision rests with the government's selection process.

No fee, no BVN sharing

The Federal Government has said beneficiaries are not required to pay any fee for registration, processing or account unlocking to receive their money. It has also warned against sharing Bank Verification Numbers, PINs and one-time passwords with agents or unknown individuals.

Anyone who suspects their wallet has been accessed without authorisation should contact their payment provider immediately.

Beneficiaries can reach their payment providers through these channels:

OPay: 0700 888 8328 or 0201 888 8328. Customers can also use in-app customer support.

Moniepoint: 07007007000 or through the Moniepoint app or its official website.

NERSI helpline: 07000222222 for grant-related enquiries and complaints.

Beneficiaries should only use verified support channels and avoid phone numbers shared by unconfirmed sources on social media. The N50,000 is a grant, not a loan, and beneficiaries are not required to repay the money.

The government has named five approved digital financial service providers responsible for delivering the N50,000 monthly cash relief to vulnerable Nigerians under the scheme. The initiative was introduced to cushion the impact of rising food prices and the increasing cost of essential goods.