No application or payment needed for NERSI N50,000 relief grants, FG clarifies
Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has moved to clear confusion surrounding its National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), stressing that selection of beneficiaries for the ₦50,000 cash support is fully automated.
In a post on its official X account on Friday, the ministry stated, “The Ministry clarifies frequently asked questions on the NERSI ₦50,000 relief support. Beneficiary selection is automated; no application, payment or personal influence is required.”
NERSI is a Federal Government programme designed to provide one-off ₦50,000 grants to poor and vulnerable households across Nigeria to help them cope with rising living costs.
Beneficiaries are drawn from the National Social Register and verified national identity (NIN) records.
Selected individuals receive an SMS from approved payment providers such as ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint, after which they must reply “YES” or dial a USSD code to consent before the full amount is credited to a mobile wallet.
The ministry has repeatedly emphasised that the money is a grant, not a loan, and that no deductions are made.
Officials have warned Nigerians against fraudsters demanding payments or personal details in exchange for inclusion on the list, noting that members of the public cannot apply, register, or influence the selection process.
Some citizens responding to the ministry’s clarification expressed concerns about whether the most vulnerable households are being reached, with one user writing that many people in need appear to have been left out while others who seem less desperate have received the support.
The ministry continues to urge the public to rely only on official channels for updates.
