The Federal Government has clarified how Nigerians will be selected and paid under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), warning members of the public against fraudsters seeking to exploit the relief programme.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction said selected beneficiaries would receive ₦50,000 as financial support to help vulnerable households cope with rising living costs.
According to a statement by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Janet Mcdickson Noah, on Friday, beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, using poverty and vulnerability criteria.
Selection, she said, covers households across all six geopolitical zones.
The ministry stressed that there is no application or registration process for NERSI and that no individual, agent or intermediary has the authority to influence the selection of beneficiaries.
“No one can add you to the list or speed up your payment,” the ministry’s official NERSI information portal states, warning Nigerians against anyone offering such services for a fee.
How beneficiaries will receive the money
Selected beneficiaries will be contacted through SMS by authorised digital financial service providers.
The official NERSI portal identifies ALAT by Wema, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint as the approved providers involved in disbursing the support.
Beneficiaries are expected to follow the instructions contained in genuine messages from their providers.
The ministry said the ₦50,000 support is not a loan and does not require repayment.
The official programme information also states that the full amount is credited to the beneficiary without deductions.
The Federal Government announced the commencement of NERSI on October 30, describing it as a shock-responsive intervention intended to provide immediate financial relief to vulnerable Nigerians facing pressure from rising food and essential commodity prices.
Nigerians warned against scams
The ministry urged prospective beneficiaries to be vigilant and avoid sharing sensitive banking information with anyone claiming to be an NERSI official, agent or payment intermediary.
In particular, beneficiaries were advised not to disclose their Personal Identification Number (PIN), One-Time Password (OTP) or Bank Verification Number (BVN) to anyone.
The ministry also warned that Nigerians should not pay money to anyone promising to secure their inclusion in the beneficiary list or facilitate payment.
Official NERSI guidance states that genuine programme messages do not request payment, PINs, OTPs or links to claim the support.
The ministry said the intervention is being implemented through verified records and licensed financial service providers to ensure that funds reach legitimate beneficiaries.
It further urged Nigerians with questions, complaints or concerns about the programme to contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to implementing NERSI with transparency, accountability and dignity, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
