The Federal Government has explained why many Nigerians are yet to receive text message notifications for its N50,000 relief grant, insisting that the delay does not necessarily mean they have been excluded from the programme.
The government said payments under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) were being disbursed in phases, with selected beneficiaries receiving notifications in batches through approved payment providers.
According to the programme’s official Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) published on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction’s website, some beneficiaries may have to wait longer for their notification because payment providers are contacting recipients at different times.
The government, however, cautioned that not everyone would benefit from the current phase, as the intervention was designed to cover a limited number of vulnerable households at a time.
It advised Nigerians to check their eligibility by dialling the USSD code of their respective payment providers and selecting the option to check their beneficiary status.
Those who are not selected will receive the message: “You are currently not selected to receive this relief support.”
The government also warned Nigerians against fraudsters claiming they could secure a place on the beneficiary list or accelerate payment in exchange for money.
“Nobody can add you to the list or speed up your payment. Anyone who offers to do so for a fee is a fraudster,” the government warned.
The N50,000 intervention is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to cushion the impact of rising food prices and the increasing cost of essential goods on vulnerable households.
The Federal Government commenced the disbursement on October 30, following an announcement by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, who described it as a presidential initiative to provide financial relief to Nigerians struggling with the rising cost of living.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, with recipients spread across the country’s six geopolitical zones based on their level of need, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
The five approved payment platforms are ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
Beneficiaries are required to accept the offer by replying YES or following the USSD instructions contained in their notification messages before the money can be credited to their mobile wallets.
The government also clarified that Nigerians do not need smartphones or internet access to receive the grant, as the USSD codes work on basic mobile phones.
It stressed that the N50,000 is a grant, not a loan, and recipients are not required to repay the money. The full amount is credited without deductions, although normal charges may apply when withdrawing through a POS agent. Federal Ministry of Health
For enquiries and complaints, Nigerians can contact the programme’s dedicated helpline on 0700-022-2222.
The government further warned beneficiaries never to disclose their PINs, one-time passwords (OTPs), passwords or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) to anyone claiming to facilitate their payments.
It said genuine messages would only come from the five approved payment providers and would not contain links requesting beneficiaries to download applications or submit sensitive banking details.
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