Last updated: November 2026 · Reading time: about 8 minutes
What this guide covers
What NERSI is
NERSI — the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention — is a presidential initiative announced by the Federal Government on 30 October 2026 . It is designed to provide direct cash support to vulnerable households to cushion the effects of rising food prices and the high cost of essential goods .
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, said eligible beneficiaries would receive ₦50,000 monthly, with the programme to be reviewed regularly in response to changes in the cost of living .
There is an important inconsistency in the public record that every beneficiary should know about. The Minister announced NERSI as a monthly intervention, but the programme’s official website describes it as a one-off grant . ActionAid Nigeria has publicly called on the government to clarify whether the payment is monthly or one-off . This article reports the Minister’s stated position — monthly — but beneficiaries should treat the duration as subject to confirmation.
How the OPay payment works
OPay is one of five approved digital financial service providers handling NERSI disbursements. The full list, with USSD codes, is:
| Provider | USSD Code |
|---|---|
| OPay | *955*20# |
| ALAT by Wema | *945*23# |
| MoMo PSB | *671*0# |
| NairaGram | *726*00# |
| Moniepoint | *557*327# |
The payment flow has three steps .
- Notification. If you are selected, you will receive an SMS from an approved provider — or a pop-up notification on your OPay app homepage — asking for your consent. The Minister confirmed this message is genuine .
- Consent. You must give consent before any money moves. OPay has clarified that eligible customers will see a pop-up on the app homepage and should click it to proceed .
- Payment. Once consent is given, the ₦50,000 is paid directly into your OPay wallet .
OPay has explicitly stated that it does not determine eligibility. The company said: “Kindly note that customers who are unable to see the feature on the app are not eligible for it. Please note that we do not determine your eligibility. Kindly contact NERSI at 07000222222 for assistance” .
Who is eligible — and who decides
The government has not published the full eligibility criteria, the total number of households expected to benefit, or the exact date when the first batch of transfers would be completed . What is known is the selection method: beneficiaries are drawn from verified national identity records and the National Social Register, then screened to identify poor and vulnerable households .
Three things are clear about the eligibility process:
- You cannot apply. There is no form, no portal, and no agent registration. The government selects; you do not apply .
- OPay does not decide. The fintech is a payment channel, not the selecting agency. If you are not selected, contacting OPay will not change your status .
- The list is batched. YEIDEP, the programme coordinating notifications, has advised those whose status shows “NOT SELECTED” to remain patient and wait for the next batch — though it did not guarantee that everyone currently marked “NOT SELECTED” would eventually receive the payment .
How to check your status on OPay
The check itself takes less than a minute. There are two official channels, and only two.
| Channel | What to do | What you will see |
|---|---|---|
| OPay app | Log in and check the homepage for a pop-up notification | If selected, a pop-up appears. Click it and follow the prompts to accept . |
| USSD | Dial *955*20# | Follow the prompts to check eligibility and accept the payment . |
If neither channel shows a notification or a positive status, you are not in the current batch. OPay has been explicit that the absence of the feature means you are not eligible for that batch, and that OPay itself does not determine eligibility .
The scams to avoid
The NERSI programme has already attracted fraudsters. The government and OPay have issued specific warnings, and they are worth treating as rules, not suggestions.
The specific scams reported include:
- Agent fees. Anyone asking you to pay a registration fee, processing fee, or “agent fee” to receive NERSI is defrauding you. The government has confirmed that no application, fee, or agent registration is required .
- Fake links. OPay has warned against clicking unverified links. Use only the official app or the USSD code *955*20# .
- PIN and BVN requests. No legitimate provider will ask for your PIN, OTP, or BVN to process the relief payment. Sharing them is how accounts are emptied .
- Fake “status upgrade” offers. Anyone claiming they can move you from “NOT SELECTED” to “SELECTED” for a fee is lying. The selection is government-controlled, and OPay does not influence it .
If you are unsure about any message, the official NERSI helpline is 0700-022-2222 . The same number is repeated across the Minister’s statement, OPay’s clarification, and the government’s fraud warnings .
What to do if you are not selected
The honest answer is: there is nothing you can do to change your status in the current batch. The selection is government-controlled, and neither OPay nor any other provider can move you into a batch .
YEIDEP has advised those whose status shows “NOT SELECTED” to remain patient and wait for the next batch — but it did not guarantee that everyone currently marked “NOT SELECTED” would eventually receive the payment . That is an important caveat: waiting is reasonable, but treating a future payment as certain is not.
Three practical points for anyone in this position:
- Do not pay anyone. The single most common scam is the promise of moving you into a batch for a fee. There is no legitimate version of this .
- Keep your registered phone number active. Notifications are sent to the phone number linked to your identity records . If that number changes, you may miss a genuine notification.
- Use the helpline if you are unsure. The official NERSI helpline is 0700-022-2222 . It is the only number quoted consistently across government and provider statements .
Frequently asked questions
Is the OPay NERSI ₦50,000 payment real?
Yes. OPay is one of five approved payment providers for the Federal Government’s NERSI programme, alongside ALAT by Wema, MoMo PSB, NairaGram and Moniepoint . The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction announced the commencement of disbursements on 30 October 2026 . The risk is not that the programme is fake — it is that fraudsters are using its name to extract PINs, OTPs and fees.
How do I check if I am selected on OPay?
Two ways. Log in to the OPay app and check the homepage for a pop-up notification . Or dial *955*20# and follow the prompts . If neither shows a notification or a positive status, you are not in the current batch.
Does OPay decide who gets the ₦50,000?
No. OPay has explicitly stated that it does not determine eligibility: “Please note that we do not determine your eligibility” . The selection is made by the government from verified national identity records and the National Social Register . OPay is a payment channel, not the selecting agency.
Is the ₦50,000 monthly or one-off?
There is a genuine inconsistency in the public record. The Minister announced it as a monthly payment, subject to periodic review . The programme’s official website describes it as a one-off grant . ActionAid Nigeria has called on the government to clarify the discrepancy . Treat the duration as subject to confirmation and do not plan around a guaranteed monthly payment.
What should I do if my status shows “NOT SELECTED”?
Wait for the next batch. YEIDEP has advised those marked “NOT SELECTED” to remain patient, though it did not guarantee that everyone in that position would eventually be paid . Do not pay anyone who claims they can change your status, and keep your registered phone number active so you receive any genuine notification .
Will OPay ask for my PIN or BVN for NERSI?
No. OPay has stated directly: “OPay will never ask for your PIN or OTP to process a NERSI relief payment” . The government has separately warned beneficiaries not to share their PINs or BVNs with anyone . Any request for these is a scam.
What is the official NERSI helpline?
0700-022-2222. This number is quoted consistently by the Minister, by OPay, and in the government’s fraud warnings . Use it if you are unsure about any message or if anyone asks you for money to access the relief.
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