The Federal Government has published guidelines explaining how Nigerians selected for its N50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention grant can check their eligibility, accept the offer, access the money and withdraw their funds.
The programme, managed by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, is designed to provide financial support to vulnerable households facing rising living costs.
Under the intervention, selected beneficiaries receive N50,000 each through mobile wallets operated by five approved payment providers.
The grant is not a loan, and recipients are not required to repay it. The full amount is credited without deductions.
Here are the key things Nigerians need to know about the intervention.
1. Who is eligible for the N50,000 grant?
The government said beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, with screening based on poverty and vulnerability criteria.
The selection covers all six geopolitical zones and is not restricted to any particular religion, ethnic group or political affiliation.
Individuals cannot apply, register through an agent or pay to secure a place on the list. The government also said no person can influence the selection process.
2. How can beneficiaries check their eligibility?
People who want to confirm their status can use the USSD code provided by their payment provider and select the eligibility-check option.
The five approved providers and their official USSD codes are:
- ALAT by Wema Bank: 94523#
- MoMo PSB: 6710#
- NairaGram: 72600#
- OPay: 95520#
- Moniepoint: 557327#
Beneficiaries should use the code corresponding to their assigned provider. The USSD service works on basic mobile phones without internet access.
3. How will selected beneficiaries receive notifications?
Selected individuals will receive SMS messages from one of the five approved payment providers.
The message will notify them of their selection and explain how to accept the grant. The government said beneficiaries’ phone numbers were obtained from the verified records used during the selection process.
Payments are being made in phases, so selected recipients may not receive notifications at the same time.
4. How can beneficiaries accept the grant?
Recipients must follow the instructions in the SMS sent by their assigned provider.
Depending on the provider, they may be required to reply YES or dial the designated USSD code and follow the prompts.
The government explained that accepting the offer is necessary before payment can be made. Once consent is given, a mobile wallet is opened or linked to the beneficiary’s phone number, and the N50,000 is credited.
Those who mistakenly reject the offer can follow their provider’s instructions to change their response.
5. Can people without smartphones receive the money?
Yes. Beneficiaries do not need a smartphone or internet connection to access the grant.
The approved USSD codes work on basic mobile phones. Customers of providers offering mobile applications may also use their official apps to access their wallets and carry out transactions.
6. How can beneficiaries withdraw the money?
Recipients can withdraw through POS agents by transferring money from their mobile wallets to the agents and collecting cash.
Other options depend on the payment provider:
- ALAT: Dial 94523Account NumberAmount# to transfer funds to a POS agent or bank account. Beneficiaries can also visit a Wema Bank branch.
- MoMo PSB: Visit a MoMo or POS agent, use the MoMo NG application or dial 6710#.
- NairaGram: Dial 72600# and follow the instructions to transfer funds.
- OPay: Use the OPay application or dial 95520#.
- Moniepoint: Use the official Moniepoint application or dial 557327# to access the available wallet services.
Beneficiaries can withdraw all their money or transfer only part of it, leaving the remaining balance in their wallets.
POS agents may charge their usual withdrawal fees, which recipients should confirm before completing transactions.
7. Are there charges for receiving the grant?
No. The government said accepting the offer, receiving the money and responding to programme messages are free.
Beneficiaries should not pay registration fees, agents or anyone claiming to facilitate payment. However, POS operators may charge their normal fees for cash withdrawals.
8. What if a beneficiary has not received an SMS?
The absence of a notification does not automatically mean an individual has been excluded.
The government said payments are being made in batches and that not everyone will be selected in the current phase.
People can check their status through their assigned provider’s USSD service. Those who receive a “currently not selected” notification should understand that it means they are not selected in the current round; it is not a guarantee of future payment.
The government warned that nobody can add individuals to the list or speed up payment in exchange for money.
9. How can beneficiaries avoid fraud?
The government warned Nigerians against individuals demanding money to secure or release the grant.
Genuine notifications should come from the official sender names of ALAT/Wema Bank, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint.
The programme said genuine messages would not contain links or request recipients’ PINs, one-time passwords or Bank Verification Numbers.
Beneficiaries should avoid clicking unfamiliar links, downloading unknown applications or forwarding WhatsApp messages claiming that sharing them will guarantee payment.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call or message should contact their payment provider through its official customer service channel.
10. What happens if a beneficiary loses a phone or SIM card?
Recipients who lose their phones or SIM cards should contact their payment providers immediately to protect their wallets.
They should also contact their network operators to obtain replacement SIM cards bearing the same phone numbers.
The government said funds remain in the mobile wallet even when a beneficiary loses a phone or SIM card.
11. Which helplines can beneficiaries contact?
The government provided the following contact numbers for enquiries and complaints:
- ALAT by Wema: 0803 900 3700
- MoMo PSB: 671 or 0803 106 7100
- NairaGram: 0201 330 0880 or 0201 330 0881
- OPay: 0700 888 8328 or 0201 888 8328
- NERSI programme helpline: 0700-022-2222
Questions about mobile wallets and payments should be directed to the respective providers, while enquiries about the intervention can be addressed to the NERSI helpline.
The Federal Government reiterated that beneficiaries do not need to register, pay an agent or visit an office to secure the grant. Nigerians were advised to rely on official programme information and payment-provider channels.
