The Federal Government has explained how beneficiaries will be selected for its ₦50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), stressing that Nigerians do not need to apply or register to qualify for the grant.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction made the clarification in a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Janet Mcdickson Noah.
The ministry said the announcement was intended to help Nigerians understand how the intervention works and prevent misinformation about the selection process.
According to the government, beneficiaries will be selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, using established poverty and vulnerability criteria.
It added that the selection process covers all six geopolitical zones, noting that no individual, agent or intermediary has the authority to influence who receives the assistance.
The ministry also clarified that the ₦50,000 payment is a grant, not a loan, meaning successful beneficiaries will not be required to repay the money.
“Each beneficiary will receive N50,000 as a grant, not a loan, and does not require repayment.”
The government explained that selected beneficiaries would receive notifications through SMS messages sent by one of the authorised digital financial service providers.
It further warned Nigerians against sharing sensitive banking information with anyone claiming to facilitate access to the intervention.
The ministry specifically advised beneficiaries not to disclose their Personal Identification Number (PIN), One-Time Password (OTP) or Bank Verification Number (BVN) to individuals or organisations requesting such details.
For enquiries and complaints relating to the programme, the ministry provided the official NERSI helpline, 0700-022-2222.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the intervention with transparency and accountability, describing it as part of efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to support vulnerable households amid rising living costs.
The clarification means Nigerians should be wary of websites, social media posts or individuals demanding registration fees or personal banking details in exchange for access to the grant. The ministry says there is no public application or registration exercise for NERSI.
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