The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) is a Federal Government initiative coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. It was introduced to provide direct financial assistance to vulnerable households across Nigeria.
Under the programme, selected beneficiaries are entitled to ₦50,000 in cash support, which is paid directly into their mobile wallets through approved financial service providers.
The government has identified three payment providers for the intervention:
NairaGram
MoMo Payment Service Bank (PSB)
ALAT by Wema Bank
The payment process is being conducted in phases, meaning beneficiaries may receive their notifications and payments at different times.
According to a payment update published on 3 November 2026, some selected NairaGram beneficiaries have started receiving ₦50,000 credit alerts.
The notification reportedly confirms that the Federal Government's relief payment has been credited to the beneficiary's account.
Recipients who have received the payment notification are advised to follow the instructions provided to activate their accounts and access their funds.
However, it is important to understand that this update does not mean every NairaGram beneficiary has been paid. Disbursement is ongoing, and payments are being processed in batches.
If you previously received an SMS notifying you of your selection under the NERSI programme and accepted the payment, you can use the NairaGram USSD code to access your account.
Follow these steps:
Use the phone number linked to your NERSI notification.
Dial *726*00#.
Follow the instructions displayed on your phone.
Complete the required account activation or verification steps.
Check your wallet balance to confirm whether the ₦50,000 has been credited.
Follow the available instructions to transfer or withdraw your money.
You can also visit a POS agent or use the available transfer options to access your funds.
Please note that you should only follow instructions from the official payment provider. Never disclose your PIN or one-time password (OTP) to anyone.
Not everyone who has been selected under the Federal Government's NERSI programme may receive an SMS notification immediately.
Some beneficiaries may miss their notification messages due to network failures, delayed SMS delivery or because their mobile phone numbers have Full Do-Not-Disturb (DND) activated, which blocks incoming messages.
Therefore, if you have not received an SMS, do not automatically assume that you were not selected.
The Federal Government has provided USSD codes that Nigerians can use to check their NERSI eligibility directly through their respective payment providers.
Follow these steps:
Use the phone number linked to your NIN or National Social Register records.
Dial the USSD code *726*00#for the relevant payment provider.
Select the Check Eligibility option from the menu.
Follow the instructions displayed on your phone.
If selected, follow the instructions to accept the ₦50,000 cash support.
Important: You do not need to receive an SMS before checking your eligibility. Dial the appropriate code and select Check Eligibility.
If your line has Full DND activated, you may also want to review your DND settings by texting STATUS to 2442. The Nigerian Communications Commission provides this service for checking DND status.
If you are selected, follow the instructions provided by your payment provider to accept the support. Remember, NERSI is free, and nobody should ask you to pay a registration or processing fee.
If you were expecting the NERSI payment but have not received a credit alert, there is no immediate reason to assume that you have been excluded.
The Federal Government has explained that payments are being processed in phases. Therefore, some selected beneficiaries may receive their notifications and payments before others.
Here are some important things to know:
Not everyone will receive payment at the same time.
Only selected beneficiaries will receive the intervention.
You must accept the payment notification before funds can be released.
Payment notifications are sent through the approved financial service providers.
Nobody can pay to secure a place on the beneficiary list or speed up payment.
You can check your eligibility using the appropriate USSD code for your payment provider.
The NERSI programme is designed to support poor and vulnerable households across Nigeria.
According to the programme guidelines, beneficiaries are selected through verified national identity records and the National Social Register.
The selection process is intended to identify households that need financial assistance.
Some important eligibility details include:
Beneficiaries must be selected under the programme.
Selection is based on verified national records.
Beneficiaries must consent to receive the payment.
Payments are distributed across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones.
Not everyone will be included in the initial payment batches.
Important: The NERSI programme is not an open application grant. There is no public application form through which individuals can register themselves for the ₦50,000 support.
Yes. The Federal Government has stated that beneficiaries are not required to pay any registration or processing fees to receive the support.
The intervention is not a loan, and beneficiaries are not expected to repay the money.
Be careful of individuals claiming they can help you secure the payment in exchange for money.
To protect yourself:
Do not pay anyone to get shortlisted.
Do not share your bank PIN or OTP.
Avoid suspicious links claiming to offer NERSI registration.
Do not give your personal banking details to unverified individuals.
Do not send money to anyone claiming that your payment needs to be unlocked.
The government has provided an official NERSI helpline for enquiries and complaints: 0700-022-2222.
There has been some difference in the published information concerning the payment frequency.
In his announcement on 30 October 2026, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction stated that eligible beneficiaries would receive ₦50,000 monthly.
However, the official NERSI programme website currently describes the ₦50,000 support as a one-off payment.
Beneficiaries should therefore rely on further clarification from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction regarding the payment schedule.
What is clear is that the programme provides ₦50,000 in direct cash assistance to selected households.
Nigerians seeking accurate information about the programme should use the Federal Government's official channels.
For programme guidelines, payment information, eligibility details and frequently asked questions, visit:
Official NERSI Website: https://www.fmhapr.gov.ng/nersi/
Official Helpline: 0700-022-2222
Avoid relying on unverified social media messages or individuals claiming to have access to the beneficiary database.
The commencement of ₦50,000 NERSI payments through NairaGram is an important development for selected beneficiaries awaiting the Federal Government's financial assistance.
If you received a selection notification and accepted the payment, dial *726*00# to access your NairaGram account and follow the instructions.
Those who have not received their payment should understand that disbursement is taking place in phases. Continue to monitor your registered phone number for genuine notifications from the approved payment providers.
For more updates on Federal Government grants, cash support programmes, business funding opportunities and other empowerment initiatives in Nigeria, keep visiting Youth Empowerment Nigeria.