FG ₦50,000 Grant (NERSI): How to Check If You Qualify

The short answer: Yes, the FG ₦50,000 grant is real. It’s called NERSI, and you can’t apply for it. The government picks people from its own records and sends them an SMS. You can check if you’ve been picked by dialling one of five official USSD codes. It’s completely free, so anybody asking you to pay for it na scammer.

Since this news dropped, “FG 50k grant” has been one of the most searched things in Nigeria. Everybody’s asking: Is it real? How do I get it? Why did my neighbour get alert and I didn’t?

Make we break it down, step by step.

What is the NERSI ₦50,000 grant?

NERSI stands for the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention. It’s a Federal Government relief programme run by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to help poor and vulnerable households cope with the cost of living.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The amount is ₦50,000. The full amount lands in your wallet, and nothing is deducted.
• It’s a grant, not a loan. You don’t pay it back.
• It’s free. Accepting it, receiving it and replying to the SMS all cost you nothing.
• It covers the whole country. People are being selected across all six geopolitical zones, based on need, whatever their religion, tribe or politics.

Who qualifies for the ₦50,000 grant?

This is where many people get confused, so read this part well.

You cannot apply. There’s no form, no portal and no office to visit. The government selects beneficiaries from:

• the National Social Register, and
• verified national identity (NIN) records,

and then screens them to reach poor and vulnerable households. Your phone number comes from those records too.

So if anybody tells you, “Send me your details make I add you to the list,” run. Nobody can add you to the list or speed up your payment.

How to check if you’ve been selected

There are two ways to know.

1. Wait for the SMS. If you’re selected, you’ll get a text message from one of these five providers: ALAT (Wema Bank), MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint. The message tells you you’ve been selected and shows the code to dial.

2. Check with USSD. Dial any of the official codes below and choose “Check eligibility”. If you haven’t been picked, you’ll see this message:

“You are currently not selected to receive this relief support.”

Don’t panic if you see it. Payments are going out in phases, so not everyone is contacted at the same time.

The official NERSI USSD codes

Provider	Code to dial
ALAT (Wema Bank)	*945*23#
MoMo PSB	*671*0#
NairaGram	*726*00#
OPay	*955*20# or the OPay app
Moniepoint	*5573*27# or the Moniepoint app

Help line: 0700-022-2222

Heads up: some articles going around online have printed the wrong codes for ALAT and Moniepoint. The codes above are from the official NERSI page. Always use those.

You don’t need a smartphone or data. The USSD codes work on any basic phone.

How to accept and collect your ₦50,000

If you’ve been selected, here’s how it works:

1. You get an SMS from one of the five providers above.
2. Reply YES, or dial the code in the message. This is your consent. No money is paid without it.
3. Your wallet opens. It’s linked to your phone number and NIN.
4. ₦50,000 is credited, and your provider sends an SMS to confirm.
5. Use your money. Spend it from the wallet, send it to your bank account, or cash out at a POS agent.

Small tip: the grant itself is free, but a POS agent may charge their normal withdrawal fee, like any other withdrawal. Ask for the fee before you withdraw.

Is there a deadline to accept? There’s no fixed date, but accept as soon as you can after you get the SMS. Your provider will send reminders.

How to spot a fake ₦50,000 grant message

Where there’s free money, scammers no dey far. Before you reply to any message, check these three things:

1. ✅ It comes from ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint only.
2. ✅ It only asks you to reply YES or dial your provider’s code.
3. ✅ It never asks for money, your PIN, OTP or BVN, and has no link to click.

If any one of these is not true, don’t reply. Call 0700-022-2222 first.

These are all scams:

• Anybody asking you to pay a fee to “release” or “unlock” your money
• Anybody offering to add your name to the list
• A link to click, or an app to download, to “claim” your ₦50,000
• A WhatsApp message telling you to forward it to get ₦50,000
• A call asking for your PIN or OTP (hang up!)
• Someone saying your payment was sent “by mistake” and asking you to send it back

Abeg, share this part with your parents and relatives who don’t use smartphones. Scammers love to target them.

Frequently asked questions

Is the FG ₦50,000 grant real?

Yes. It’s an official Federal Government programme called NERSI, run by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. Details are on the ministry’s official page, fmhapr.gov.ng/nersi.

How do I apply for the ₦50,000 grant?

You don’t. There’s no application. Beneficiaries are picked from the National Social Register and NIN records, and selected people get an SMS.

Others have been paid, but I haven’t. Have I been left out?

Not necessarily. Payments go out in phases, so your SMS may not have arrived yet. The programme also supports a limited number of households at a time. Dial a provider’s code and choose “Check eligibility” to see your status.

Is the ₦50,000 paid every month?

Some reports have called it “monthly”, but the official NERSI page only talks about a ₦50,000 payment and doesn’t say it repeats every month. Until the ministry confirms it, treat it as ₦50,000, and watch the official page for updates.

Do I need a bank account?

No. The money goes into a mobile wallet linked to your phone number and NIN. You can send it to your bank account later if you want.

I said “No” by mistake. What do I do?

Dial the code again and choose Yes. Your choice will be updated.

I lost my phone or SIM. Will I lose the money?

No. Your money stays in your wallet. Call your provider’s help line straight away so they can protect your wallet, then get a replacement SIM with the same number from your network.

Can someone collect it for me?

No. The money is paid to your phone number, and only you can access it. A family member you trust can help you dial the code, but always enter your PIN yourself, and never hand over your phone, PIN or OTP.

Can I withdraw part of it and keep the rest?

Yes. You can withdraw all or part of it, and the rest stays in your wallet.

Is my personal information safe?

The official page says your details are used only to pay you under NERSI and are protected under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. No one from the programme will ask for your PIN, OTP or BVN.

The bottom line

The ₦50,000 grant is real, but you can’t apply, pay or “connect” your way into it. If you’re selected, you’ll get an SMS from ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint. Reply YES or dial the code, and the money lands in your wallet. If you’re not sure, check with the official USSD codes or call 0700-022-2222.

And anybody wey ask you for money, PIN or OTP? Na thief. Block am.

This post is based on the official NERSI page as of 7 November 2026. Details may change, so always check fmhapr.gov.ng/nersi for the latest.