FG’s N50,000 relief: OPay explains how to check eligibility, warns against scams

OPay has explained how customers can check their eligibility for the Federal Government’s monthly N50,000 cash relief programme for vulnerable Nigerians, warning against fraudsters seeking to exploit the initiative.

The digital financial services provider said eligible customers would receive a pop-up notification on their OPay app homepage, which they must click to proceed with the next steps.

In a statement posted on its X handle on Tuesday, OPay clarified that customers who do not see the notification on their apps are not eligible for the intervention.

The company added that it does not determine beneficiaries’ eligibility and advised customers who require assistance to contact the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.

OPay also warned customers against fraudsters, stressing that it would never request their personal identification numbers PINs or one-time passwords OTPs to process relief payments.

“OPay will never ask for your PIN or OTP to process a NERSI relief payment. Do not pay any agent or click unverified links,” the company warned.

It advised customers to use only its official mobile application or the USSD code 95520# to check their eligibility.

The clarification comes amid growing public interest in the Federal Government’s NERSI programme, which is designed to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the disbursement in a statement on October 30, explaining that eligible beneficiaries would receive N50,000 monthly to help meet essential needs and cushion the impact of rising living costs.

According to the minister, the programme is being implemented in partnership with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure secure and transparent payments.

Beneficiaries will receive an SMS requesting their consent before the money is paid directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.

Other participating providers and their USSD codes include ALAT by Wema 94523#, MoMo PSB 6710#, NairaGram 72600# and Moniepoint 557327#.

Doro stressed that the programme requires no application, registration fee or payment to agents. He also urged Nigerians not to share their PINs or Bank Verification Numbers BVNs and to contact the official NERSI helpline for clarification on suspicious messages.