FG Approves Platforms, USSD Codes For Nigerians To Get N50,000 Grant
The Federal Government has identified digital financial platforms Nigerians can use to check their eligibility for its N50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) grant.
The government has approved five digital financial service providers with available USSD codes through which Nigerians can access information about the grant.
They include ALAT by Wema, MoMo Payment Service Bank, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has also listed Xpress Payments as an approved provider, although its USSD code has not been made public.
The available USSD codes include 94523# for ALAT by Wema Bank, 6710# for MoMo Payment Service Bank, 72600# for NairaGram and 557327# for OPay.
These codes allow users to check information about the intervention and follow the instructions provided by their respective financial service providers.
However, accessing the codes does not automatically qualify anyone for payment.
According to information from the ministry’s official NERSI portal, beneficiaries are identified through existing government records, including the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
Unlike some government empowerment schemes that require applicants to complete registration forms, the N50,000 intervention relies on existing records to identify qualified Nigerians.
Individuals selected for the programme are expected to receive text messages from approved financial institutions notifying them of their eligibility.
After receiving the notification, beneficiaries must follow the instructions, give their consent and activate the mobile wallets assigned to them before the money can be paid.
OPay customers may also receive eligibility notifications directly on the homepage of their mobile application.
The process does not require an internet-enabled smartphone, as Nigerians can use the available USSD services on basic mobile phones.
Meanwhile, Nigerians who receive a notification indicating that they were not selected have been advised to remain patient.
The disbursement is being carried out in batches, meaning some beneficiaries may receive their notifications later than others.
However, an unsuccessful eligibility check does not guarantee that the individual will be selected in another batch.
The Federal Government has also warned Nigerians against fraudsters attempting to exploit the grant programme.
Members of the public have been advised to ignore anyone demanding money for registration or promising to secure a place on the beneficiary list.
The government has clarified that the NERSI intervention is a grant and not a loan. This means beneficiaries are not expected to repay the money after receiving it.
