OPay Clarifies Eligibility Process for Federal Government Monthly Cash Relief

Digital financial services provider OPay has issued guidance for customers seeking to determine their eligibility for the Federal Government’s N50,000 monthly cash relief program. The initiative, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is designed to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households across Nigeria to help mitigate the impact of rising living costs.

According to OPay, customers who qualify for the support will receive an automatic pop-up notification on the homepage of their mobile application. Users are instructed to click this notification to proceed with the necessary steps to access the funds. The company explicitly stated that customers who do not see this notification on their app are not currently eligible for the program, noting that OPay does not play a role in selecting beneficiaries or determining eligibility criteria.

For individuals who do not have access to the mobile application, the company has provided an alternative method to verify status. Customers may dial the USSD code *955*20# to check their eligibility. The government has partnered with several other licensed financial service providers to facilitate the distribution of these funds, including ALAT by Wema (*945*23#), MoMo PSB (*671*0#), NairaGram (*726*00#), and Moniepoint (*557*327#).

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the disbursement on October 30. He emphasized that the program is intended to be a secure and transparent process. Beneficiaries will receive an SMS notification requesting their consent before any funds are transferred directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets. The minister confirmed that the program will be subject to regular reviews to ensure its effectiveness.

In light of the widespread public interest in the relief scheme, OPay and government officials have issued strong warnings regarding fraudulent activities. The company stated that it will never request personal identification numbers (PINs) or one-time passwords (OTPs) to process relief payments. Customers are urged not to pay any agents, share sensitive banking details like their Bank Verification Number (BVN), or click on unverified links that claim to offer assistance with the program.

Government officials have reiterated that there is no formal application process, registration fee, or requirement to engage with third-party agents to receive the financial support. Any individual or entity demanding payment or promising to expedite access to the funds is likely attempting to commit fraud. Citizens who encounter suspicious messages or have questions regarding the intervention are encouraged to contact the official NERSI helpline at 0700-022-2222 for verification and assistance.