Got an SMS saying the Federal Government has selected you for ₦50,000? It may be genuine. The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) is a real Federal Government programme, run by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, that pays ₦50,000 into a mobile wallet for selected poor and vulnerable households. Scammers are copying it, though. This guide explains how to tell a real message from a fake one, how to collect your money, and who to call if something goes wrong. Everything here comes from the programme’s official website.
The most important rule: NERSI is free. Nobody will ever ask you to pay, or to share your PIN, OTP or BVN, to receive it.
At a Glance
| Programme | National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) |
| Run by | Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction |
| Amount | ₦50,000 per selected beneficiary (a grant, not a loan, with nothing deducted) |
| How it’s paid | Into a mobile wallet linked to your phone number and NIN |
| Approved payment providers | ALAT (Wema Bank), MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint |
| Can you apply? | No. Beneficiaries are selected, and nobody can add you to the list. |
| Official help line | 0700-022-2222 |
Eligibility: Who Gets the ₦50,000?
- Beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, then screened to reach poor and vulnerable households.
- You can’t apply, and no one can add you to the list, whether for a fee or as a favour.
- Beneficiaries are spread across all six geopolitical zones and are chosen on need alone.
- Payments go out in phases, so not everyone is contacted at the same time, and not everyone is selected in the current phase.
To check whether you’ve been selected: dial one of the provider codes below and choose Check eligibility. If you aren’t on the list, you’ll see: “You are currently not selected to receive this relief support.”
How to Spot a Genuine NERSI SMS: Check Three Things
- Who sent it. Genuine messages come only from ALAT, MoMo, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint. Ignore any other sender.
- What it asks you to do. A genuine SMS only asks you to reply YES or dial your provider’s code.
- What it never asks for. It never asks for money, your PIN, your OTP or your BVN, and it never contains a link.
If any of these doesn’t match, don’t reply. Call the help line on 0700-022-2222 first.
Here’s the example of a genuine message published by the programme:
“Relief! FGN has selected you to receive ₦50,000 under NERSI to help with living costs. This is FREE. Enq? Call 07000222222. Dial *945*23# to accept.”
That code is ALAT’s. Your own message will show the code for your provider.
Benefits: What You Get
- ₦50,000 credited in full to your mobile wallet, with nothing deducted
- It’s a grant, so you don’t pay it back
- It works on a basic phone, with no smartphone or data needed
- You can withdraw all or part of it, and the rest stays in your wallet
- You can transfer it to any bank account
Note: receiving and accepting the money is free, but a POS agent may charge their usual withdrawal fee when you cash out. Ask about the fee first.
How to Apply: Accepting and Collecting Your ₦50,000 If You Are Selected
There is no application form. If you’ve been selected, “applying” simply means accepting the SMS offer:
- Reply YES or dial the code in your SMS. This is your consent, and nothing is paid without it.
- Your wallet opens, linked to your phone number and NIN.
- ₦50,000 is credited, and you get an SMS confirming it.
- Cash out at a POS agent or bank, or spend from your wallet.
Official provider codes
| Provider | Code | How to withdraw |
|---|---|---|
| ALAT (Wema Bank) | *945*23# | Send to a POS agent’s account or your own bank account, or visit any Wema Bank branch |
| MoMo PSB | *671*0# | Any MoMo agent or POS agent, or the MoMo NG app |
| NairaGram | *726*00# | Send to a POS agent or bank account |
| OPay | *955*20# | Send to a POS agent or bank account, or use the OPay app |
| Moniepoint | *5573*27# | Send to a POS agent or bank account, or use the Moniepoint app |
For ALAT, you can also dial *945*23*Account Number*Amount# from your registered phone to send money to a POS agent’s account or your bank account.
What to Do If You Can’t Withdraw or Something Goes Wrong
- The code doesn’t work: check your network signal and try again. If it still fails, call your provider’s help line.
- You said No by mistake: dial the code again and choose Yes.
- Others have been paid but you haven’t: payments go out in batches. Check using Check eligibility on a provider code.
- You lost your phone or SIM: call your provider straight away so they can protect your wallet, then get a replacement SIM with the same number. Your money stays in your wallet.
- Someone else wants to collect it for you: they can’t. Only you can access it. A trusted family member may help you dial, but always enter your PIN yourself.
Scams to Watch Out For
- Anyone asking you to pay to “release” or “unlock” your money
- Calls or messages asking for your PIN, OTP, BVN or password. Hang up.
- Links or requests to download an app to claim the money. The programme never sends links.
- WhatsApp chain messages telling you to forward them to get ₦50,000. They’re fake.
- People who say they can add you to the list or speed up your payment for a fee
- Anyone saying your payment was a mistake and asking you to send it back. Don’t send money; call your provider.
Official Contacts
- NERSI programme help line: 0700-022-2222
- ALAT by Wema: 0803 900 3700
- MoMo PSB: 671 or 0803 106 7100
- NairaGram: 0201 330 0880 or 0201 330 0881
- OPay: 0700 888 8328 or 0201 888 8328
- Moniepoint: use the help line in the Moniepoint app or on its official website
Call your provider about your wallet or payment, and the programme help line about the programme itself.
Official NERSI website (Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction)
