N50,000 NERSI: Check if your area is covered by FG relief payment
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction clarified eligibility criteria for its financial support program during a statement issued Friday by Director of Information and Public Relations, Janet Mcdickson Noah.
The ministry’s assistance will cover households across several regions. Specifically, eligible states in the South-West include Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti, while the South-East consists of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. In the South-South region, residents of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers can apply.
Additionally, the North-Central states of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau, along with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are included. North-East states eligible for funding are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe, while those in the North-West include Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
Under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), selected Nigerians will receive a one-time grant of N50,000. The government emphasized that this funding is a grant and not a loan, with the entire amount paid out without deductions.
Beneficiaries will be identified through the National Social Register and verified national identity records, with selections made based on need across all six geopolitical zones, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation. The government noted that payments will be distributed in phases, indicating that it is normal for notifications to be sent at different times.
“If you have not received a message yet, it does not mean you have been left out,” the statement warned. It is crucial for recipients to remain vigilant against potential fraud. The ministry urged beneficiaries to protect their personal information, reiterating that no official will request sensitive details such as Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), One-Time Passwords (OTPs), or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs).
Beneficiaries will receive an SMS from one of five authorized payment providers: ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay, and Moniepoint. The message will specify the provider and include a USSD code for grant acceptance.
The government recommended that individuals who wish to verify their eligibility can manually dial their provider’s USSD code. Genuine messages will only appear from the official sender names of these approved providers.
To access the funds, beneficiaries should follow the instructions provided in the notification message. The procedure will initiate the creation of a mobile wallet, into which the N50,000 grant will be deposited. It is crucial for recipients to accept the offer promptly, as reminders will be sent.
In case a recipient accidentally selects “No” when prompted, they can dial the USSD code again to choose “Yes.” Failing to accept the offer means they will not receive payment. The ministry also noted that a basic phone suffices for transactions, as USSD codes operate without internet access. Users of MoMo PSB, OPay, and Moniepoint can utilize their official apps for wallet access as well.
Funds can be withdrawn through a Point-of-Sale (POS) agent by transferring from the mobile wallet to the agent. Beneficiaries have the option to withdraw the full amount or only a portion, leaving the remainder in their wallet. Transfers to any bank account or another person’s account can also be executed via USSD or the app.
The ministry emphasized that accepting the grant, receiving the payment, and responding to related messages will incur no fees. Recipients are advised not to pay anyone for access to the program or to ensure their inclusion on the list.
