The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of N50,000 to selected poor and vulnerable households under its National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI).
The programme, announced by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, on October 30, 2026, is designed to help households cope with rising food prices and the cost of essential goods.
Unlike conventional government grants, Nigerians do not need to complete an online application or pay a registration fee to access the support. Beneficiaries are selected by the government and contacted directly through approved payment providers.
Here is how to check whether you qualify and receive the money.
Who is eligible for the N50,000 government grant?
According to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, beneficiaries are selected from verified national identity records and the National Social Register.
The programme targets poor and vulnerable households across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with selection based on need rather than state, religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
However, not every Nigerian will receive the payment. The government is disbursing the funds in phases, and only selected beneficiaries will be contacted.
How to check your eligibility for the N50,000 grant
The government has approved five financial service providers to distribute the money.
You can check your eligibility through the USSD code of your payment provider.
| Approved provider | USSD code |
| ALAT by Wema Bank | 94523# |
| MoMo PSB | 6710# |
| NairaGram | 72600# |
| OPay | 95520# |
| Moniepoint | 557327# |
Dial the code corresponding to your provider and follow the instructions to select the eligibility-check option.
OPay customers can also check for an eligibility notification on their app homepage.
If you are selected, you will receive an SMS from one of the approved providers confirming your eligibility and explaining how to accept the payment.
How to claim the N50,000 payment
Once you receive an official notification confirming your selection, follow these steps:
- Dial the USSD code provided in your SMS or follow the instructions in your provider’s official application.
- Select the option to accept the grant and reply YES where requested.
- Your mobile wallet will be opened or linked to your registered phone number and National Identification Number (NIN).
- The government will credit your wallet with N50,000.
- You will receive an SMS confirming the payment.
The government says payment will only be made after beneficiaries consent to receiving the money.
You do not need a smartphone or internet connection to accept the grant, as the USSD option works on basic mobile phones.
How to withdraw the N50,000 grant
Once the money reflects in your mobile wallet, you can withdraw it through a Point of Sale (POS) agent, transfer it to your bank account or spend directly from your wallet.
You can also withdraw the money in instalments, leaving the balance in your wallet for later use.
Although receiving the grant is free, POS agents may charge their usual withdrawal fees. Confirm the charges before making a withdrawal.
Is the N50,000 government grant a loan?
No. The Federal Government says the N50,000 payment is a grant, not a loan. Beneficiaries are not required to repay the money.
There are also no registration, processing or activation fees.
The government has warned Nigerians against fraudsters claiming they can secure a place on the beneficiary list or speed up payment in exchange for money.
Do not pay anyone to access the grant. Never disclose your PIN, one-time password (OTP), password or other banking security details to anyone.
Genuine notifications come from the five approved payment providers. They do not contain links asking beneficiaries to submit sensitive information.
What if you have not received an SMS?
Not receiving an SMS does not automatically mean you have been permanently excluded from the programme.
The government says payments are being made in phases, meaning selected beneficiaries may receive notifications at different times.
You can dial your provider’s USSD code and select the eligibility-check option to confirm your status.
If the system indicates that you are not currently selected, you are not entitled to the payment at this stage. The government has not guaranteed that everyone who is initially unsuccessful will be included in a subsequent batch.
There is no authorised agent or registration process through which you can pay to secure inclusion.
For enquiries or complaints about the programme, contact the NERSI help line on 0700-022-2222.
Official information: Visit the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction’s NERSI portal https://fmhapr.gov.ng/nersi/.