Eligible Nigerians can now check their status and access the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) through Moniepoint Microfinance Bank’s USSD platform, in a move aimed at widening access to the intervention.
Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, one of the payment providers selected by the Federal Government to facilitate the disbursement, said beneficiaries could verify their eligibility and receive the financial support by dialling *5573*27# from their registered phone numbers.
The intervention, coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, is designed to provide direct financial assistance to vulnerable Nigerian households to help them meet essential needs and cushion the effects of prevailing economic pressures.
Under the arrangement, customers who are confirmed as beneficiaries will receive instructions on how to accept the support and have the ₦50,000 credited to their Moniepoint accounts at no cost.
The bank explained that beneficiary selection would be determined by the Federal Government’s established eligibility criteria and verification procedures, which rely on verified national identity records and the National Social Register to identify vulnerable households.
It, however, cautioned that the programme was being implemented in phases across the country, noting that not all customers would necessarily qualify or be selected at the same time. Access to the fund remains subject to government verification and approval.
Commenting on the initiative, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, Babatunde Olofin, said the bank was pleased to deploy its technology and financial infrastructure to support the Federal Government’s intervention.
“We are pleased to enable our eligible customers to receive this relief support from the Federal Government’s NERSI initiative. At Moniepoint, we recognise its importance and are happy to contribute our technology and infrastructure to make the process seamless and secure in line with our avowed commitment to creating financial happiness for every Nigerian.”
Olofin urged customers to exercise caution when checking their eligibility and accessing the funds, warning against the use of unofficial channels or third-party intermediaries.
He added: “We urge our customers to remain vigilant and use only our official USSD code when checking their eligibility or accessing the funds. The process comes at no additional cost and requires no extra documentation or third-party intervention. Their security remains a priority, and we encourage anyone with questions about the process to contact our customer service team or the official NERSI helpdesk on 0700 022 2222.”
Moniepoint said its participation in the programme builds on its experience in delivering large-scale public sector interventions through digital financial infrastructure designed to promote transparency, security and efficient last-mile distribution.
The financial services provider has previously collaborated with key government institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Kaduna State Government, on initiatives covering food distribution, agricultural support and direct financial empowerment.
Among its previous engagements, the company facilitated subsidised food distribution to more than 800,000 beneficiaries, supported revenue collection for national fertiliser programmes and disbursed ₦3 billion in direct empowerment funds to 2,400 vulnerable citizens under an Ultra-Poor Graduation Programme.
With a nationwide network of point-of-sale terminals spanning all 774 local government areas of Nigeria, Moniepoint said it was strategically positioned to support the Federal Government in extending the reach of the NERSI intervention and ensuring that eligible households could access the funds more conveniently.
The bank noted that its involvement reflects its broader commitment to expanding financial inclusion and deploying technology to deliver meaningful value to Nigerians.
