Financial technology company OPay has explained how Nigerians can check their eligibility for the Federal Government’s N50,000 cash relief programme, warning customers against fraudulent agents and unauthorised payment requests.
The clarification follows the commencement of disbursements under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention, a government programme designed to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households affected by rising living costs.
According to information released by OPay, only Nigerians selected under the government initiative can access the payment through the company’s platform.
OPay explains N50,000 relief eligibility
The company disclosed that eligible customers would receive a notification on the homepage of their OPay application.
Customers who receive the notification are expected to follow the instructions displayed to confirm their eligibility and proceed with the payment process.
OPay explained that customers who do not see the notification have not been selected for the current intervention.
The company also clarified that it does not determine which individuals qualify for the financial assistance.
Beneficiary selection is handled under the Federal Government’s relief programme.
Customers seeking clarification about their status were advised to contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.
OPay warns against fraudsters
The financial technology company warned customers against individuals demanding money or confidential banking information to facilitate the payment.
It stressed that beneficiaries would not be required to disclose their personal identification numbers or one-time passwords.
“OPay will never ask for your PIN or OTP to process a NERSI relief payment,” the company stated.
It also advised customers to avoid suspicious links and unauthorised agents promising to secure the N50,000 payment.
Customers can use the official OPay application or dial *955*20# to check their eligibility.
FG explains how beneficiaries are selected
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the intervention on October 30, 2026.
He explained that the initiative was designed to ease the financial pressure facing vulnerable households.
According to the minister’s announcement, selected beneficiaries would receive N50,000 monthly, subject to reviews based on prevailing living costs.
However, the programme’s official website currently describes the payment as a one-off grant, leaving the duration of the assistance unclear.
The government said eligible beneficiaries would receive text messages through approved financial service providers requesting their consent before payments were processed.
Beneficiaries are selected using the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
No fresh application or payment to an agent is required.
FG lists approved payment platforms
The intervention is being implemented through licensed digital financial service providers.
These include ALAT by Wema, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay, Moniepoint and Xpress Payments.
According to the official NERSI website, beneficiaries can verify their eligibility using the approved providers’ applications or USSD channels.
The government also explained that payments would be made in phases, meaning eligible individuals might receive notifications at different times.
Customers whose status shows that they have not been selected should not interpret this as a guarantee of payment in a future batch.
Authorities advised Nigerians to rely on official programme communications and report suspicious requests for payment or personal banking details.
The NERSI helpline, 0700-022-2222, remains available for enquiries and complaints.
