Thousands of Nigerians are searching for answers about the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 monthly relief payment, particularly OPay customers who want to know whether they have been selected and how to check their eligibility.
The payment is part of the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), a Federal Government programme designed to provide financial support to poor and vulnerable households facing economic pressure and rising living costs.
Under the programme, selected beneficiaries are expected to receive ₦50,000 monthly through approved financial service providers, including OPay, Moniepoint, ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo PSB and NairaGram.
For OPay customers, the important question is not simply whether you have an OPay account. Having an OPay account does not automatically make you eligible for the ₦50,000 relief.
Beneficiaries are selected through the Federal Government’s eligibility process, and OPay serves as one of the payment channels for people who have been selected.
So, how do you check your status?
Here is what you need to know about the ₦50,000 NERSI relief payment, OPay eligibility, the USSD code, payment process and how to avoid scams.
What Is the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 Relief Payment?
The ₦50,000 monthly payment is part of the Federal Government’s National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
The programme is intended to provide financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households across Nigeria, particularly those facing pressure from rising living costs.
Selected beneficiaries receive the support through participating financial service providers, with the money paid into a mobile wallet or designated account.
The government says the programme is being implemented in phases, meaning beneficiaries may not all receive their notifications or payments at the same time.
The ₦50,000 support is a grant, not a loan, according to the supplied programme information. Beneficiaries are not expected to repay it, and they should not be required to pay a registration or processing fee to receive the money.
Who Is Eligible for the ₦50,000 NERSI Relief?
The programme is targeted at poor and vulnerable Nigerian households.
However, the payment is not automatically available to every Nigerian or every customer of a participating financial institution.
According to the programme information, beneficiaries are selected using verified national identity records and the National Social Register. The selection process is intended to identify households that meet the programme’s vulnerability criteria.
This means:
- Having an OPay account does not automatically qualify you.
- You do not need to open a new OPay account to become eligible.
- You cannot simply pay to have your name added to the beneficiary list.
- Selection is based on government records and eligibility screening.
- Payments and notifications are being handled in phases.
The programme is intended to cover eligible households across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Is OPay responsible for selecting beneficiaries?
No.
OPay is one of the approved payment channels for the NERSI intervention. It does not decide which Nigerians qualify for the government’s relief programme.
The government’s beneficiary-selection process comes first. OPay’s role is to provide the payment channel for selected beneficiaries.
How to Check Your ₦50,000 Relief Eligibility on OPay
If you use OPay, there are two ways to check whether you have been selected: through the OPay app or through the OPay USSD service.
Method 1: Check Through the OPay App
To check through the OPay application:
- Open the official OPay app on your phone.
- Log in to your account.
- Check the app homepage for a notification or pop-up concerning the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief payment.
- If the notification appears, click on it.
- Follow the instructions displayed in the app to confirm your eligibility and proceed with the payment process.
If you have been selected and the relevant notification is available on your account, the app should direct you through the next stage.
If you do not see a notification, do not pay anyone claiming that they can activate the payment for you.
Method 2: Check With the OPay USSD Code
You can also check through OPay’s USSD service.
Using the phone number associated with your OPay account, dial:
*955*20#
Follow the instructions displayed on your screen and select the relevant option for checking your eligibility.
This option can be particularly useful if you do not have mobile data or cannot access the OPay application.
For your safety, use the USSD code through the phone number linked to your OPay account and follow only the instructions provided through the official service.
How to Know If Your ₦50,000 Relief Payment Has Been Credited
Checking your eligibility is different from confirming that your money has actually been paid.
If you have received a selection notification and completed the required consent process, you can check whether the ₦50,000 has reached your wallet.
You can:
- Check your SMS messages for a payment confirmation.
- Open the OPay app and check your wallet balance.
- Review your transaction history for the ₦50,000 payment.
- Use OPay’s official USSD service to access available account and transaction options.
- Contact OPay’s official customer support if you have accepted the support but cannot confirm the payment.
One important point is that receiving a selection notification does not necessarily mean the money has already been credited. The supplied programme information says beneficiaries must provide consent before payment is made.
What If You Have an OPay Account but Have Not Received a Notification?
This is probably one of the biggest questions among OPay customers.
If you have an active OPay account but cannot see a notification about the ₦50,000 relief payment, there are several possible explanations.
First, having an OPay account does not automatically make you a beneficiary. Selection is based on the government’s eligibility process and verified records.
Second, the programme is being implemented in phases. Some selected beneficiaries may receive notifications before others, while other households may not be selected during the current phase.
You can therefore check your status through the official OPay USSD channel or app rather than relying on someone who claims to have access to the beneficiary list.
If you need additional clarification about the programme, the supplied NERSI information lists the following helpline:
0700-022-2222
Can You Apply for the ₦50,000 NERSI Relief Payment?
There is no public self-registration process described in the supplied programme guidance.
The government’s published information says beneficiaries are selected from verified national identity records and the National Social Register.
That means you should be very careful with websites, WhatsApp messages or social media accounts claiming that you can register for the ₦50,000 payment by paying a fee or submitting your details through an unofficial form.
Anyone who tells you that they can personally add your name to the beneficiary list in exchange for money should be treated with suspicion.
Which Other Banks and Fintech Platforms Are Participating?
OPay is not the only financial service provider involved in the programme.
The supplied NERSI information identifies the following payment providers and USSD channels:
| Payment provider | USSD code |
|---|---|
| OPay | *955*20# |
| Moniepoint | *5573*27# |
| ALAT by Wema Bank | *945*23# |
| MoMo PSB | *671*0# |
| NairaGram | *726*00# |
However, being a customer of any of these companies does not automatically mean you will receive the ₦50,000.
The payment providers are channels through which selected beneficiaries can receive and access the support. Beneficiary selection remains part of the government’s programme process.
How to Avoid ₦50,000 NERSI Scams
Government cash-support programmes often attract scammers because many people are actively looking for ways to qualify.
The ₦50,000 relief programme is therefore something you should approach carefully.
Watch out for people claiming they can guarantee your selection, activate your payment or add your name to the beneficiary list.
Never Pay a Registration Fee
You should not pay an individual simply because they claim they can register you for the NERSI payment.
The supplied programme information states that beneficiaries should not be charged to receive the support.
Never Share Your PIN or OTP
Do not give anyone your:
- ATM PIN
- OPay PIN
- OTP
- Password
- Banking security codes
A person who asks for these details in order to “release” your ₦50,000 should be treated as a potential scammer.
Be Careful With WhatsApp and Social Media Links
Scammers may create fake registration pages that look like government websites.
Do not enter your banking information or personal security details into an unfamiliar website simply because someone shared the link with you.
Use Official Channels
Check your eligibility through the official OPay application or USSD service.
For programme-related questions, use the official NERSI communication channels rather than relying on social media agents.
Frequently Asked Questions About the OPay ₦50,000 Relief Payment
Is the Federal Government giving Nigerians ₦50,000 every month?
According to the supplied NERSI programme information, selected beneficiaries are expected to receive ₦50,000 monthly. The programme is targeted at poor and vulnerable households.
Does every OPay customer qualify for the ₦50,000?
No.
Having an OPay account does not automatically make you a beneficiary. Selection is based on the government’s eligibility process.
How do I check my OPay ₦50,000 eligibility?
Open the OPay app and check the homepage for an official relief notification.
You can also dial:
*955*20#
and follow the USSD instructions.
What if I don’t see the ₦50,000 notification on my OPay app?
If the notification does not appear, you should not pay an agent to “activate” your eligibility.
You can also check through the OPay USSD channel or contact the NERSI helpline for clarification.
Do I have to pay to receive the ₦50,000?
No.
Do not pay anyone claiming that you need a registration, approval or processing fee before receiving the government support.
Is the ₦50,000 NERSI payment a loan?
According to the supplied programme information, the ₦50,000 support is a government cash grant for selected beneficiaries and is not repayable.
Can Moniepoint customers receive the ₦50,000 relief?
Moniepoint is listed among the participating payment providers. Its listed USSD code for the programme is:
*5573*27#
What is the NERSI helpline?
The supplied programme information lists the official NERSI helpline as:
0700-022-2222
Final Thoughts
The Federal Government’s ₦50,000 monthly NERSI relief payment is intended to provide financial support to selected poor and vulnerable households, but it is important to understand that the money is not automatically available to every Nigerian or every OPay customer.
If you use OPay, the easiest place to start is your official OPay app. Check the homepage for a NERSI relief notification. You can also dial *955*20# and follow the USSD prompts to check your status.
Most importantly, do not pay anyone who promises to secure the ₦50,000 for you.
The government’s programme information says beneficiaries are selected using verified records, meaning an agent cannot legitimately sell you a place on the beneficiary list.
If you receive a suspicious message, encounter an unfamiliar registration link or someone asks for your PIN or OTP, stop and verify the information through an official channel.
For programme enquiries, the supplied NERSI helpline is 0700-022-2222.
The safest way to check your ₦50,000 relief status is to use the official OPay app, the official USSD channel and verified government information—not an agent promising guaranteed payment.