₦50,000 Federal Relief Support: Ministry Answers Key Questions On Eligibility & Payment
By JOANNA ILUSANMI
THE Federal Government has clarified the eligibility requirements and payment procedures for its ₦50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), aimed at assisting vulnerable households affected by rising living costs.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction released the clarification on Friday 6 November 2026, in response to questions about the programme.
In a statement signed by Kingsley O. Onuoha on behalf of the Director of Information and Public Relations, the Ministry addressed concerns about beneficiary selection, payment channels, registration requirements and possible fraudulent activities.
The following questions and answers explain how the intervention is expected to work.
1. Who is eligible for the ₦50,000 support?
The intervention targets vulnerable Nigerians identified through the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
According to the Ministry, officials will select beneficiaries using established poverty and vulnerability criteria. The exercise will cover all six geopolitical zones.
However, interested individuals do not need to apply or register. The Ministry also stressed that no government official, private agent or other individual can influence the selection process.
2. How much will beneficiaries receive?
Every selected beneficiary will receive ₦50,000 from the Federal Government.
The Ministry said the grant would be paid in full, without deductions. Unlike a loan, the financial support carries no repayment obligation.
3. How will beneficiaries know they have been selected?
Successful beneficiaries will receive SMS notifications from authorised digital financial service providers.
Each message will contain instructions on how to accept the grant and access the payment. Therefore, recipients should pay attention to the information provided through their designated payment channels.
4. How do beneficiaries access the money?
Once they receive the notification, selected beneficiaries must follow the instructions provided by their respective payment providers.
The process may involve replying YES to the notification or dialling a designated USSD code to confirm consent and access the funds.
The Ministry identified the following platforms and codes:
| Payment platform | USSD code |
|---|---|
| ALAT by Wema Bank | *94523# |
| MoMo PSB | *6710# |
| NairaGram | *72600# |
| OPay | *95520# |
| Moniepoint | *557327# |
After completing the consent process, the provider will credit the ₦50,000 support directly to the beneficiary’s mobile wallet.
The Ministry further explained that recipients could use the USSD service without owning a smartphone or having an internet connection.
5. Can anyone influence the selection or facilitate payment?
No. The Ministry said beneficiary selection operates through an automated process based on established eligibility requirements.
As a result, no individual, government official, agent or third party can secure a place for someone or influence the selection.
Similarly, nobody can pay to obtain inclusion or accelerate the disbursement. The Ministry therefore urged Nigerians to disregard anyone claiming to have special access to the programme.
6. Is there any fee or registration link?
No. The Federal Government does not require beneficiaries to pay registration fees, engage agents or click on links to receive the grant.
Instead, genuine payment notifications will come from the authorised digital financial service providers identified by the Ministry.
To protect themselves, beneficiaries must never share their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), One-Time Passwords (OTPs) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) with anyone.
The Ministry warned that anyone demanding money in exchange for the grant is attempting to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.
For further clarification, complaints or enquiries, members of the public can contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
