FG Explains How Nigerians Can Receive ₦50,000 Cash Grant, Releases USSD Codes for Withdrawal

The Federal Government has provided guidelines explaining how selected poor and vulnerable Nigerian households can access its ₦50,000 cash grant under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), a relief programme designed to cushion the impact of rising living costs on low-income families.

The intervention, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, is aimed at providing direct financial assistance to vulnerable households through mobile wallets, allowing beneficiaries to receive and access the funds without going through complicated payment processes.

According to the programme’s guidelines, selected beneficiaries will receive ₦50,000 each through designated payment providers, including ALAT, MoMo, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.

The government explained that the use of mobile wallets is intended to make the disbursement process faster, more transparent and accessible, with independent verification checks carried out during payment cycles to ensure that funds reach the intended recipients.

How to Receive the FG’s ₦50,000 Cash Grant

The Federal Government has outlined four major steps that selected beneficiaries must follow to receive their money.

1. Receive an SMS Notification

Beneficiaries selected for the intervention will receive an official text message from one of the designated payment providers informing them that they have been chosen to participate in the programme.

2. Confirm Participation

After receiving the notification, beneficiaries are required to reply YES to indicate their willingness to participate.

The government stated that the grant will not be processed without the recipient’s consent.

3. Activate Your Mobile Wallet

Once participation has been confirmed, a mobile wallet will be created and linked to the beneficiary’s registered phone number and National Identification Number (NIN).

4. Receive and Withdraw the ₦50,000

Following successful activation, the sum of ₦50,000 will be credited directly into the beneficiary’s mobile wallet.

Recipients can subsequently access their money by withdrawing through Point of Sale (POS) agents, visiting banks or making direct payments from their mobile wallets.

USSD Codes for Withdrawing the ₦50,000 Grant

The government also provided withdrawal instructions for beneficiaries who may not have access to smartphones or prefer using USSD services.

According to the guidelines, beneficiaries will receive additional SMS instructions from their respective payment providers after the funds have been credited.

The designated withdrawal codes are as follows:

* ALAT (Wema Bank): Dial `94523#`.

* MoMo PSB: Dial `6710#`.

* NairaGram: Dial `72600#`.

* OPay: Dial `95520#` or use the mobile application.

* Moniepoint: Dial `557327#` or use the mobile application.

How the Federal Government Selects Beneficiaries

The government clarified that participation in the NERSI intervention is not open to everyone, as beneficiaries are identified through verified national identity records and the National Social Register.

The selection process is designed to identify households classified as poor and vulnerable and considered eligible for the emergency financial intervention.

It further explained that Nigerians cannot independently submit applications to secure a place on the beneficiary list, nor can anyone pay to influence their selection.

The government also cautioned that the disbursement will take place in phases, meaning that not every eligible household will necessarily be included in the first batch of beneficiaries.

FG Warns Nigerians Against Cash Grant Scams

As the programme progresses, the Federal Government has warned Nigerians to remain vigilant against fraudsters who may attempt to exploit the cash grant initiative.

It stressed that the intervention is completely free and that no individual, agent or government official is authorised to demand money from beneficiaries before they can receive their ₦50,000 entitlement.

The government identified three important ways Nigerians can distinguish genuine programme notifications from fraudulent messages.

First, legitimate messages must originate from the designated payment providers: ALAT, MoMo, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint.

Second, beneficiaries will only be asked to reply YES to confirm participation or dial the designated USSD code provided by their payment provider.

Third, genuine programme messages will never request payment, personal identification numbers (PINs), one-time passwords (OTPs) or passwords. Beneficiaries will also not be required to click suspicious links to access their grants.

Recipients have consequently been advised never to disclose their PINs, OTPs or passwords to anybody, including payment agents or individuals claiming to represent the government.

Anyone who receives a suspicious notification or is uncertain about the authenticity of a message has been advised to disregard it and contact the programme’s official helpline for clarification.

Frequently Asked Questions About the FG’s ₦50,000 NERSI Grant

What is NERSI?

The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention is a Federal Government relief initiative designed to provide financial support to poor and vulnerable Nigerian households struggling with increasing living costs.

The programme is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

How much will each beneficiary receive?

Every selected beneficiary will receive ₦50,000 directly into their designated mobile wallet. According to the guidelines, the full amount will be credited without deductions.

Is the ₦50,000 grant a loan?

No. The payment is a government grant, not a loan. Beneficiaries are not expected to repay the money.

Who qualifies for the intervention?

The programme targets poor and vulnerable households identified through the National Social Register and verified national identity records.

Individuals cannot independently apply or pay to be included in the selection process. Those selected will receive an SMS notification from their designated payment providers.

Why was I selected, and how did the government obtain my phone number?

The government explained that beneficiaries are identified using information contained in the National Social Register and verified national identity records.

Their phone numbers are obtained from these records and made available to the relevant payment providers strictly for the purpose of facilitating the disbursement.

The government also stated that beneficiaries’ personal information would only be used for purposes connected to the intervention.

With the introduction of the NERSI cash grant, the Federal Government says it is seeking to provide direct financial relief to vulnerable households through a digital payment system while strengthening transparency and reducing the risk of diversion during disbursement.

Important: Nigerians are advised to wait for official SMS notifications and avoid anyone demanding money in exchange for access to the ₦50,000 grant.