Key facts at a glance
- Programme: National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI)
- Amount: ₦50,000
- OPay USSD code: *955*20#
- App check: a pop-up notification on the OPay homepage
- Helpline: 07000222222
- Selection basis: verified national identity records and the National Social Register
How OPay users can get the ₦50,000 support
- Dial the USSD code. Open your phone dialler and enter *955*20# using the phone number linked to your OPay account.
- Follow the instructions. Choose the appropriate option and follow the prompts to check your eligibility and accept the support.
- Use the OPay app. Alternatively, log in to the OPay application and look at the homepage for a notification saying you have been selected.
- Accept the support. If you are selected, follow the on-screen instructions to give your consent and complete the process.
- Receive your payment. Once the process is complete, the ₦50,000 is credited to your designated mobile wallet.
OPay says the pop-up is the key signal. Customers who do not see it are not on the list, and the company has said it has no role in choosing beneficiaries. People who need help can call the NERSI helpline on 07000222222, as reported by Legit.ng.
Who qualifies for NERSI?
The scheme is not open to everyone, and there is no public application form. Based on information on the official NERSI website, Vanguard reports that beneficiaries are chosen from verified national identity records and the National Social Register, which lists poor and vulnerable households. The National Identification Number (NIN) is issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) after enrolment, and enrolment in both databases is a prerequisite, according to a report by Punch. The government has not published the detailed screening criteria. Once a person confirms, a mobile wallet linked to their phone number and NIN is opened and the money is paid into it.
In practical terms, this means a person cannot apply their way into the scheme by visiting an agent or filling in a form. Anyone who has not yet enrolled for a NIN, or whose phone number is not linked to the right records, may want to check those details through official channels.
Background of the grant
Nigeria’s cash support for poor households did not begin with NERSI, since the country introduced its national cash transfer programme in 2016 and has since run several schemes aimed at cushioning low-income families. NERSI was announced on Friday, 30 October 2026, by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, who described it as a presidential initiative designed to give immediate financial help to millions of Nigerians struggling with global food inflation and rising prices of essential goods. Payments are routed through approved digital providers, namely ALAT by Wema, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint, instead of through an open government portal, a design that allAfrica’s explainer says leaves many vulnerable Nigerians asking how they can benefit.
What is CREDICORP?
CREDICORP often comes up in conversations about government financial support, so it helps to explain what it does and what it does not do. The Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation is a separate federal institution, set up under President Bola Tinubu in 2024 as a government-owned development finance body that works with banks, fintechs and cooperatives to widen access to consumer credit for things such as vehicles, solar systems, housing and health needs. Its mandate includes strengthening credit reporting, offering credit guarantees and wholesale lending to participating institutions, and reaching at least half of the working population by 2030. Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated its board in February 2026, when Nairametrics reported that it had disbursed more than ₦37 billion in its first year. Unlike NERSI, which is a relief payment, CREDICORP products are loans that must be repaid. You can read about its newest phone-based product in Daily Talk’s report on CREDICORP’s SPARK loan.
Warning: do not fall for scams
Whenever money from government is in the news, fraudsters tend to follow, and OPay has issued a clear caution. The company says it will never ask for a PIN or one-time password (OTP) to process a NERSI payment. It also urges people not to pay any agent and not to click unverified links, and to use only the official OPay app and the *955*20# code to check eligibility.
Other tips are simple but important:
- Never share your PIN, OTP, card details or BVN with anyone claiming to help you “unlock” the money.
- Do not pay anyone for “registration”, “processing” or “priority” access. The support is described as free.
- Ignore messages that ask you to click a link. Use only the official app or USSD code.
- If a text message says you were selected, verify it inside the OPay app before acting on it.
Some beneficiaries have reported receiving text messages saying they were chosen and telling them to dial *955*20# or log in to the app. Nigeria Startup News noted that OPay was not among the providers first listed alongside other platforms, and that the alerts suggest it is now processing NERSI payments, though this has not been confirmed for every customer. That is another reason to confirm everything inside the official app.
Questions that remain
Some details are still unclear. Several outlets describe NERSI as a monthly payment of ₦50,000, while at least one guide describes a one-off grant. The government has also not said how long the programme will run or when payments will end, Leadership reports. Readers should rely on official NERSI channels for confirmation of the payment schedule.
There is also public debate about the programme’s timing. A commentary published by allAfrica questioned the scheme in the context of what it called election-season compassion, with Nigeria’s general election due in January 2027. The government presents NERSI as a response to hardship caused by rising prices, and the debate over motives does not change the practical steps for people who have been selected.
What OPay users should do now
For OPay customers, the practical advice is straightforward. First, make sure your OPay account is linked to your active phone number, and that your NIN details are up to date. Second, dial *955*20# or open the app and check for the notification. Third, if nothing shows up, do not panic and do not pay anyone, because the absence of a pop-up simply means you have not been selected at this time. Finally, keep all communication within official channels and report suspicious messages to OPay.
For fuller coverage of money, markets and household finance, visit Daily Talk’s Business and Economy section.
Editor’s Note: This article is for general information. Eligibility, payment amounts and schedules are decided by the Federal Government and may change. Confirm details through the official NERSI channels and the OPay app.
