If a text says the Federal Government has picked you for a ₦50,000 NERSI relief payment, it may be real, but only if it came from one of five named providers and asks you for nothing. The NERSI relief payment started on 30 October 2026, and fake versions are easy to make. Here is how to tell the difference in under a minute.
The short version
NERSI is a Federal Government cash transfer for poor and vulnerable households. Nobody applies for it, and it never costs a fee. These are the checks that matter.
- Selected people receive ₦50,000 in a mobile wallet linked to their phone number and NIN, with nothing deducted, according to the programme page.
- The real text only comes from ALAT, MoMo, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint, and you accept by replying YES or dialling the code in the text, depending on the provider.
- The programme never sends links, never asks for money to “release” a payment, and never needs your PIN, OTP or BVN.
- You cannot apply or pay to be added. Beneficiaries are picked from the National Social Register and verified identity records.
- The official NERSI helpline is 0700-022-2222.
The upshot: a real government payment and a scam can look almost the same on a small phone screen. The difference is in three details: who sent the message, whether it has a link, and whether anyone asks you for money or a code.
What the NERSI relief payment is
NERSI stands for the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention. It is run by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. In a statement on 30 October, the minister, Dr Bernard Doro, called it a Presidential initiative “to provide immediate financial relief to the most vulnerable Nigerians.”
The ministry’s programme page says each beneficiary gets ₦50,000, that “nothing is deducted,” and that it is a grant, not a loan, so you do not pay it back. The minister’s statement says eligible beneficiaries will receive ₦50,000 monthly and that the amount “will be reviewed regularly.” The programme page itself says payments go out in phases and that not everyone is selected in this phase.
How the real NERSI relief payment text works
According to the NERSI programme page, a selected person gets an SMS from one of five providers. The sample message on the page reads: “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.”
- You get the SMS from a named provider.
- You reply YES or dial the code in the SMS to give consent. Nothing is paid without it.
- A wallet opens, linked to your phone number and NIN.
- ₦50,000 lands in the wallet. You can cash out at a POS agent or a bank, or spend from the wallet.
It works on a basic phone. You do not need a smartphone or data.
The only five providers, and their codes
These are the providers and USSD codes printed on the ministry’s page. You can dial your provider’s code and choose “Check eligibility” to see whether you were picked.
- ALAT (Wema Bank): *945*23#
- MoMo PSB: *671*0#
- NairaGram: *726*00#
- OPay: *955*20#
- Moniepoint: *5573*27#
If you are not selected, the ministry says the message reads: “You are currently not selected to receive this relief support.” That is not a scam. It simply means you are not in this phase.
Five signs a NERSI message is fake
- It has a link. The programme page says plainly: “The programme never sends links.”
- It asks for money. “Nobody will ever ask you for money to ‘release’ your support.” A “processing fee” or “activation fee” is a scam.
- It asks for your PIN, OTP, password or BVN. The ministry says never share them, “not even with an agent or official.”
- It came from anyone other than the five providers. A WhatsApp message, a Facebook page or a random phone number is not one of them.
- It asks you to forward it. The ministry says chain messages are fake.
The same tricks show up in fake credit alerts. Our guide on how to spot a fake bank alert shows what to check on your banking app before you believe any message about money.
Can you apply for NERSI?
No. The ministry says beneficiaries are chosen from the National Social Register and verified identity records, across all six geopolitical zones, “on need alone.” The minister’s statement adds that beneficiaries do not need to apply, pay any fee or register through any agent.
So anyone selling a “NERSI registration form,” a “fast track” or a place on the list is lying. The programme page calls them fraudsters.
What to do if you are unsure, or already replied to a fake
- Call the NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222 and ask before you do anything else.
- If you shared a PIN or OTP, call your bank or wallet provider straight away and ask them to block your account and cards.
- Change the PIN on any wallet or banking app you think is exposed.
- Warn the family WhatsApp group with a plain message: the real payment comes by SMS from five named providers, never with a link, and never for a fee.
If a lender or app starts contacting you after you shared your details, read our guide on checking whether a loan app is approved by the FCCPC.
