The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction led by Dr. Bernard Doro, has officially launched the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI).
Under the scheme, eligible vulnerable households across the country will receive a direct cash transfer of ₦50,000 aimed at cushioning the impact of rising food costs and general living expenses. To eliminate payment leakages, traditional bureaucracy, and administrative delays, the government has partnered directly with leading digital payment operators, including OPay, MoMo PSB, ALAT by Wema, Moniepoint, and NairaGram.
Step-by-Step Payment & Consent Process
Unlike traditional intervention funds requiring lengthy manual registration, beneficiaries are selected directly from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
- Consent Request via SMS: Selected beneficiaries will receive an official text message from one of the approved payment platforms requesting their confirmation.
- SMS Confirmation: Beneficiaries must reply with YES (or send “YES” to 2684) to indicate consent. No funds will be disbursed without explicit user consent.
- Automatic Wallet & Disbursement: Once confirmed, a dedicated digital mobile wallet linked to the recipient’s phone number and National Identification Number (NIN) is credited with the full ₦50,000 without any operational deductions.
- Immediate Withdrawal Options: Beneficiaries can transfer the funds to any bank account, spend directly from their app, or withdraw cash at Point of Sale (POS) terminals and bank branches.
Official Provider Platform USSD Access Codes
Nigerians can check their eligibility status or interact with their respective payment wallets using provider-specific USSD channels:
- OPay: Dial *955*20# (or check the in-app homepage pop-up banner)
- ALAT by Wema Bank: Dial *945*23#
- MoMo PSB (MTN): Dial *671*0#
- Moniepoint: Dial *557*327#
- NairaGram: Dial *726*00#
Strict Anti-Fraud Warning from Operators & Ministry
With fraudsters attempting to capitalize on the news, both the Federal Ministry and digital financial operators have issued stern warnings to the public:
- Zero Application Fees: The program is 100% free. No agent, middleman, or portal is authorized to collect processing fees.
- No Confidential Data Requests: Neither the government nor the payment operators will ever request your Banking PIN, OTP, or account password to disburse the relief grant.
- Beware of Fake Links: Do not click on unverified social media registration links claiming to guarantee approval. Official inquiries and fraud reporting can be routed through the dedicated helpline at 0700-022-2222.
