By Paul Joseph
The Federal Government has clarified how Nigerians can qualify for and receive the ₦50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) grant, warning the public against fraudulent registration links, payment agents and individuals demanding money to facilitate access to the support.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, in a press release on Friday November 6, 2026, explained that the intervention targets vulnerable households affected by rising living costs.
The Ministry said beneficiaries would be selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records based on established poverty and vulnerability criteria, with coverage across all six geopolitical zones.
It stressed that there is no application or registration process, adding that individuals, government officials and third-party agents cannot influence the selection process.
According to the Ministry, each successful beneficiary will receive ₦50,000 as a Federal Government grant, with the full amount credited without deductions.
It clarified that the financial support is not a loan and does not require repayment.
On how beneficiaries would be notified, the Ministry said selected individuals would receive SMS messages from authorised digital financial service providers containing instructions on how to accept the grant.
It explained that recipients might be required to reply YES to the notification or dial their designated USSD codes to give consent and access the money.
The approved payment platforms and their corresponding USSD codes are ALAT by Wema Bank (*945*23#), MoMo PSB (*6710#), NairaGram (*72600#), OPay (*955*20#) and Moniepoint (*557*327#).
The Ministry added that once consent is given, the ₦50,000 support would be credited directly to the beneficiary’s mobile wallet.
It noted that beneficiaries would not need a smartphone or internet connection to access the USSD services.
The government further warned Nigerians against paying registration fees, engaging agents or clicking on unofficial links to secure the grant.
It advised members of the public never to disclose their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), One-Time Passwords (OTPs) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) to anyone.
The Ministry cautioned that anyone demanding money in exchange for the grant or promising to fast-track payment was attempting to commit fraud.
For enquiries and complaints, beneficiaries were advised to contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the intervention is implemented transparently and accountably, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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