The Federal Government has published the five USSD codes that selected Nigerians can dial to receive the ₦50,000 grant under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI). The relief programme is meant to help poor and vulnerable households cope with rising living costs. It joins other phone-based schemes now reaching Nigerians, including the CREDICORP SPARK loan pilot, which also runs through a short dial code.
What is NERSI?
NERSI is a relief programme run by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. According to the official NERSI portal, it is a shock-responsive cash transfer that puts money directly into the hands of poor and vulnerable households through a mobile wallet.
The government says it is a grant, not a loan. Recipients do not repay it, and the full ₦50,000 goes into the wallet with nothing deducted.
Beneficiaries are drawn from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, then screened to reach households in need. The ministry says people are selected on need alone, across all six geopolitical zones, whatever their religion, ethnic group or political affiliation.
The five USSD codes
USSD codes are short numbers beginning with a star and ending with a hash sign. You dial them on your phone like a normal call. Here are the five codes listed on the official NERSI portal:
| Provider | USSD code | Also available |
|---|---|---|
| ALAT by Wema Bank | *945*23# |
Wema Bank branches |
| MoMo PSB (MTN) | *671*0# |
MoMo NG app |
| NairaGram | *726*00# |
USSD only |
| OPay | *955*20# |
OPay app |
| Moniepoint | *5573*27# |
Moniepoint app |
Use the code for the provider that sent you the SMS. Dial it from the phone number that received the message.
How to get your ₦50,000 in four steps
The government describes the process as simple. Nothing is paid unless you agree.
- Wait for an SMS. It will come from ALAT, MoMo, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint and will say you have been selected.
- Give your consent. Reply YES, or dial the code in the message and follow the prompts. The message shows which code to dial.
- Your wallet opens. It is linked to your phone number and your National Identification Number (NIN).
- Collect the money. Once ₦50,000 is credited, you will get a confirmation SMS. You can cash out or spend from the wallet.
You can also dial your provider’s code and choose “Check eligibility”. If you are not on the list, you will see a message saying you are currently not selected.
Who gets paid, and when?
Payments are going out in phases. Providers contact beneficiaries in batches, so some people may hear first while others wait. According to the official FAQ, the programme supports a limited number of households at a time.
That means a “not selected” message today is not necessarily final. Still, the government has not promised a later payment to everyone who is currently left out. The portal says plainly that nobody can add you to the list or speed up your payment.
Vanguard reported that beneficiaries can withdraw the money through a point-of-sale (POS) agent or at a bank, or spend it directly from their wallets.
One grant or monthly payments?
Some news outlets have described the support as monthly. The official portal describes ₦50,000 in support and does not state a monthly schedule. Until the ministry clarifies, treat any claim of monthly payments with caution.
How to cash out
The quickest route is a POS agent. You send the money from your wallet to the agent, and the agent hands you cash. You can take all of it or only part, and the rest stays safely in your wallet. Each provider also offers its own options:
- ALAT: dial
*945*23*Account Number*Amount#to send money to a POS agent or your own bank account. You can also visit any Wema Bank branch. - MoMo PSB: visit any MoMo or POS agent, or dial
*671*0#or use the MoMo NG app. - NairaGram: dial
*726*00#and follow the steps to send money to a POS agent or bank account. - OPay: dial
*955*20#or use the OPay app. - Moniepoint: dial
*5573*27#or use the Moniepoint app.
Receiving the grant is free. A POS agent may charge the usual withdrawal fee, so ask for the amount before you withdraw. Only you can access the money. A trusted relative may help you dial the code, but you should always enter your own PIN and never hand over your phone, PIN or OTP.
Why the codes matter
For millions of Nigerians, a phone call to a short number is the easiest way to reach financial services. Smartphones and data are costly, and many people live far from a bank branch. By using USSD, the programme can reach people with basic handsets in towns and villages alike.
The approach also reflects a wider shift in how money moves in Nigeria. Industry voices argue that banks must become “invisible” by building services into the digital tools people already use every day. NERSI follows the same logic by paying through wallets rather than branches.
The approach has risks as well. Wherever money flows through phones, fraudsters follow. That is why the government is putting heavy emphasis on safety.
Scam warning: protect your money
The ministry says this programme is free and warns Nigerians to be alert. Before you reply to any message, check three things:
- It comes from ALAT, MoMo, NairaGram, OPay or Moniepoint.
- It only asks you to reply YES or dial your provider’s code.
- It never asks for money, your PIN, your OTP, or for you to click a link.
If any of these is untrue, do not reply. Call a help line first. The portal also lists these red flags:
- Nobody will ever ask you to pay to “release” your support.
- Never share your PIN, OTP, password or BVN, even with an agent or an official.
- You do not need to register, pay or visit an office to be selected.
- Chain messages on WhatsApp asking you to forward them to get ₦50,000 are fake.
- Anyone who claims they can add you to the list for a fee is a fraudster.
- If someone says your payment was a mistake and asks you to send it back, do not send anything.
If you lose your phone or SIM, call your provider straight away so your wallet can be protected. Your money stays in the wallet.
Where to get help
For questions about the programme, call the NERSI help line on 0700-022-2222. For problems with your wallet or payment, contact your provider:
- ALAT by Wema: 0803 900 3700
- MoMo PSB: 671 or 0803 106 7100
- NairaGram: 0201 330 0880 or 0201 330 0881
- OPay: 0700 888 8328 or 0201 888 8328
The official portal lists no separate help line for Moniepoint, so Moniepoint users with problems can start with the NERSI help line or the Moniepoint app.
What happens next
The rollout is still under way, and officials say payments will continue in phases. If you have received an SMS, act on it using the code from your provider and nobody else. If you have not, keep your phone number and NIN details up to date and avoid anyone who offers a shortcut.
For more reports on digital payments, prices and money matters, visit the FinTech section of Daily Talk, and use the Naira Rate Converter to see what your money is worth in other currencies.
