FG is Giving out Free N50,000 relief payments to vulnerable Nigerians – Begin Application

The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the disbursement of ₦50,000 monthly cash support to selected poor and vulnerable households under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI).

The programme officially commenced on October 30, 2026, following an announcement by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro. According to the Federal Government, the intervention is intended to provide immediate financial relief to vulnerable households facing rising living costs and high prices of essential goods.

Unlike some government programmes where applicants are required to submit forms or register through an agent, NERSI beneficiaries do not need to apply or pay anyone to be selected. Beneficiaries are selected from verified national identity records and the National Social Register and are contacted through approved digital financial service providers.

OPay is one of the approved payment providers participating in the programme. The company has provided a way for its customers to check whether they have been selected and, where applicable, accept the ₦50,000 support.

If you use OPay and want to know whether you have been selected, here is what you need to do.

How to Check Your Eligibility for the ₦50,000 NERSI Support Through OPay

OPay customers can check their eligibility using the official OPay USSD service or the OPay mobile application.

1. Dial 95520#

Using the phone number associated with your OPay account, open your phone’s dialler and dial:

*955*20#

Follow the instructions displayed on your screen to check your NERSI eligibility.

The Federal Government’s official NERSI information page confirms that OPay customers can use *955*20# to access the service.

2. Check the OPay app

You can also check through the official OPay mobile application.

Log in to your OPay account and check the app’s homepage for a notification or pop-up indicating that you have been selected for the NERSI support.

According to OPay’s guidance, eligible customers will see the relevant notification in the app. If the feature does not appear, that does not mean you should pay anyone to “activate” your eligibility.

3. Follow the instructions if you are selected

If you have been selected, follow the instructions provided by OPay to give your consent and complete the payment process.

The NERSI programme requires beneficiaries to provide consent before payment is made. The official process involves notification from an approved payment provider, followed by consent and payment into the beneficiary’s mobile wallet or account.

4. Wait for the payment

Once you have completed the required consent process, the ₦50,000 support will be credited to your designated mobile wallet.

The government says payments are being made in phases, so selected beneficiaries may not all receive their notifications or payments at the same time.

Who Is Eligible for the ₦50,000 Monthly Support?

The NERSI programme is targeted at poor and vulnerable households across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

According to the Federal Government, beneficiaries are selected using verified national identity records and the National Social Register, followed by screening to identify households that meet the programme’s criteria.

This means Nigerians cannot simply submit an application and automatically qualify for the money.

The government has specifically stated that:

• You cannot pay to be added to the beneficiary list.
• You do not need to register through an agent.
• You do not need to pay a processing or activation fee.
• Not everyone will be selected in the first payment phase.
• Beneficiaries are contacted through approved payment providers.

The programme is being implemented across the six geopolitical zones, with payments released in phases.

Is the ₦50,000 NERSI Payment a Loan?

No. The ₦50,000 NERSI support is a government grant and does not have to be repaid.

The official NERSI information describes the payment as relief support for selected vulnerable households. The government says the full ₦50,000 is credited to the beneficiary’s wallet and is not deducted as a loan repayment.

Do You Have to Pay to Receive the ₦50,000?

No. The NERSI programme is free.

Beneficiaries should not pay an individual, agent or anyone claiming to have the ability to secure their place on the beneficiary list.

The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against fraudsters who may attempt to exploit the programme by requesting money or sensitive financial information.

You should also be extremely careful with messages, WhatsApp posts and social media accounts claiming that you need to pay a registration fee before receiving the money.

There is no legitimate NERSI agent who can sell you a place on the beneficiary list.

Do Not Give Anyone Your PIN or OTP

One of the most important things to remember is that no legitimate NERSI official or payment provider should ask for your ATM PIN, OPay PIN, OTP or other confidential security credentials to release your ₦50,000 payment.

The official NERSI website specifically warns beneficiaries not to share their PIN, OTP or password with anyone. It also says genuine programme messages will not ask beneficiaries to pay money or click an unknown link.

If someone contacts you claiming they can help you receive the money but asks for your PIN, OTP or payment, stop communicating with them.

What If You Have Not Received an SMS?

Do not immediately assume that you have been excluded permanently.

NERSI payments are being made in phases, and the government says not everyone will be contacted at the same time. Some beneficiaries may therefore receive their notification later than others.

You can check your status through the official channel provided by your payment provider.

However, you should not pay anyone who claims they can add your name to the list or move your payment into an earlier batch.

What If OPay Says You Are Not Selected?

If your eligibility check shows that you have not been selected, there is no legitimate payment you can make to change the result.

The NERSI programme states that beneficiaries are selected from verified records and that no individual can sell or provide access to the beneficiary list.

If you believe you need clarification about your status, contact the official NERSI helpline rather than relying on social media agents or unofficial websites.

Official NERSI Helpline

For questions or complaints concerning the programme, the Federal Government has provided the following helpline:

NERSI Helpline: 0700-022-2222

You can also contact your payment provider if your question concerns your wallet or the actual payment.

For OPay-related assistance, use OPay’s official customer support channels rather than responding to unsolicited messages or calls.

Other Payment Providers Approved for NERSI

OPay is not the only financial service provider participating in the programme.

The Federal Government’s official NERSI information page lists five approved payment providers:

These codes are provided by the official NERSI programme information.

How the NERSI ₦50,000 Payment Works

The process is relatively straightforward for people who have already been selected.

First, an eligible beneficiary receives an SMS from an approved payment provider. The message informs the person that they have been selected and provides instructions for giving consent.

After the beneficiary provides consent, a mobile wallet is opened or linked to the beneficiary’s phone number and NIN, where applicable. The ₦50,000 support is then credited to the wallet.

The programme is designed to work even for people who do not have smartphones. The official NERSI website says the USSD codes work on basic phones and do not require an internet connection.

Is the ₦50,000 Payment Monthly?

Yes. According to the Federal Government’s October 30 announcement, eligible beneficiaries are expected to receive ₦50,000 monthly under the intervention.

However, the government also said the programme will be reviewed regularly in response to changes in the cost of living, and beneficiaries will be notified before any changes are made.

This is important because the ₦50,000 support should not be presented as a permanent payment with no possibility of changes. The programme’s continuation and terms are subject to government review.

Final Takeaway

The Federal Government’s ₦50,000 NERSI cash support is being distributed to selected poor and vulnerable households across Nigeria.

If you use OPay, you can check your eligibility by dialing *955*20# or by checking the official OPay app for a NERSI notification.

The most important thing to remember is that you do not need to pay anyone to qualify or receive the money. You should also never give anyone your PIN, OTP, password or other confidential banking information.

If you receive a suspicious message or someone asks you for money in exchange for the ₦50,000 support, do not engage with them. Contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222 for clarification.

The safest approach is to use only the official NERSI information and the official channels of your payment provider when checking your eligibility or receiving the support.