Relief that reaches every home.
₦20,000 support for poor and vulnerable households, sent straight to your phone. No fees. No middlemen.
Support when households need it most
The Humanitarian Assistance Programme is the Federal Government’s shock-responsive cash transfer for poor and vulnerable Nigerian households. It puts money directly into people’s hands through a mobile wallet, quickly and transparently.
Our promise
Nothing is paid without your consent, nothing is taken from your support, and nobody can sell you a place on the list.
Four simple steps
You get an SMS
It comes from ALAT, MoMo or NairaGram and tells you that you have been selected.
Reply YES
This is your consent to take part. Nothing is paid without it.
Your wallet opens
Your wallet is linked to your phone number and NIN.
Collect your cash
₦20,000 is credited. Cash out at a POS agent, at a bank, or spend from your wallet.
This programme is free. Protect yourself.
If something feels wrong, stop and call the help line before you do anything.
Is your message real? Check three things
- It comes from ALAT, MoMo or NairaGram.
- It only asks you to reply YES or dial your provider’s code.
- It never asks for money, your PIN, your OTP or for you to click a link.
If any of these is not true, do not reply. Call the help line to confirm before you do anything.
- Nobody will ever ask you for money to “release” your support.
- Never share your PIN, OTP or password, not even with an agent or official.
- Messages only come from ALAT, MoMo or NairaGram. Ignore any other sender.
- You do not need to register, pay or visit an office to be selected.
How beneficiaries are selected
Beneficiaries are selected from verified national identity records and the national social register, then screened to reach poor and vulnerable households.
Good to know
- You cannot apply or pay to be added.
- Not everyone is in the first group.
- Your data is used only for this programme.
Frequently asked questions
About the programme
What is NERSI?
The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) is a Federal Government relief programme to help households cope with rising living costs. The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction runs it.
Under NERSI, selected beneficiaries receive a one-off support of ₦20,000 into a mobile wallet.
How much will I receive?
₦20,000. The full amount goes into your wallet. Nothing is deducted.
Is it a loan?
No. It is a grant from the Federal Government. You do not pay it back.
Who is eligible?
Beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records. You cannot apply, and no one can add you to the list. If you have been selected, your provider will send you an SMS.
Why was I selected, and how did you get my number?
You were selected as a beneficiary from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, and your phone number comes from those records. Your details are shared only with your payment provider, and only so they can pay you.
Is my personal information safe?
Yes. Your details are used only to pay you under NERSI and are protected under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. No one from the programme will ask for your PIN, OTP or BVN.
Who are ALAT, MoMo PSB and NairaGram?
They are the three payment providers the Federal Government approved to pay NERSI beneficiaries.
- ALAT is the digital bank of Wema Bank, a licensed commercial bank.
- MoMo PSB is a licensed Payment Service Bank.
- NairaGram is a digital money transfer service.
Is it only for some states or groups?
No. Beneficiaries are spread across all six geopolitical zones and are selected on need alone, whatever their religion, ethnic group or political affiliation. Payments go out in phases, so not everyone is contacted at the same time.
Does it cost anything?
No. Accepting the payment, receiving it and replying to programme SMS are all free. Never pay anyone to receive it.
When you cash out at a POS agent, the agent may charge their usual withdrawal fee, as with any withdrawal. Ask for the fee before you withdraw.
Selection and accepting
How will I know I have been selected?
You will receive an SMS from your provider (ALAT, MoMo PSB or NairaGram) telling you that you have been selected. The SMS shows the code to dial to accept. For example:
“Relief! FGN has selected you to receive ₦20,000 under NERSI to help with rising living costs. This is FREE. Enq? Call 07000222222. Dial *945*23# to accept.”
You can also dial your provider’s code and choose Check eligibility.
How do I accept?
Dial the code in your SMS and follow the steps for your provider. Your wallet is opened, ₦20,000 is credited, and you receive an SMS to confirm it.
Nothing is paid until you accept.
Do I need a smartphone or data?
No. A basic phone is enough. The codes work without the internet.
Is there a deadline to accept?
Please accept as soon as you can after you receive the SMS. Your provider will send you reminders.
What if I do not want it, or I said No by mistake?
If you choose No, your choice is recorded, and you will not be paid. If you change your mind, or chose No by mistake, dial the code again and choose Yes.
Others have been paid, but I have not. Have I been left out?
Not necessarily. Two things may be happening:
- Payments go out in phases. Providers contact beneficiaries in batches, so your SMS may simply not have arrived yet.
- Not everyone is selected in this phase. The programme supports a limited number of households at a time.
To check, dial a provider’s code and choose Check eligibility. If you are not on the list, you will see: “You are currently not selected to receive this relief support.”
No one can add you to the list or speed up your payment. Anyone who offers to do so for a fee is a fraudster.
Getting your money
How will I know the money has arrived?
Your provider sends an SMS confirming the credit. You can also dial your provider’s code to check your balance.
Where and how do I withdraw it?
The quickest way is through a POS agent: you send the money from your wallet to the agent, and the agent gives you cash. Each provider also offers other options:
- ALAT: dial *945*23*Account Number*Amount# from your registered phone to send money to the POS agent’s account or to your own bank account. You can also visit any Wema Bank branch.
- MoMo PSB: visit any MoMo agent or POS agent, or dial *671*0# or use the MoMo NG App to send money to an agent or to a bank account.
- NairaGram: dial *726*00# and follow the steps to send money to a POS agent or to a bank account.
Can I take part of it and keep the rest?
Yes. You can withdraw all or part of it. The rest stays safely in your wallet.
Can I send it to my bank account or to someone else?
Yes. You can transfer it to any bank account through your provider’s code or app.
Can someone collect it for me?
No. The money is paid to your phone number and only you can access it. A family member you trust may help you dial the code, but always enter your PIN yourself and never hand over your phone, PIN or OTP.
If something goes wrong
The code does not work.
Check your network signal and try again. If it still does not work, call your provider’s help line.
I lost my phone or SIM.
Call your provider’s help line straight away so they can protect your wallet. Then get a replacement SIM with the same number from your network operator. Your money stays in your wallet.
Someone says my payment was a mistake and asks me to send it back.
Do not send money to anyone. This is a common trick. Call your provider’s official help line to check.
Staying safe
How do I know an SMS is genuine?
Genuine SMS come only from your provider’s official sender name: ALAT / Wema Bank, MoMo PSB or NairaGram. They never ask for money, your PIN, OTP or BVN, and never contain a link. If in doubt, call your provider’s help line before you reply.
Someone called asking for my PIN or OTP to release my money.
Hang up. No provider, agent or programme official will ever ask for your PIN, OTP or BVN. Report the call to your provider.
Someone asked me to pay to unlock or release my money.
Do not pay. NERSI is free. Report it to your provider’s help line.
Someone called about the programme and asked for my personal details.
Do not give out your PIN, OTP or other security details. If you need help, call your provider’s official help line yourself.
I got a link, or was told to download an app, to claim my money.
The programme never sends links. All you need is your provider’s code, which works on any phone. MoMo PSB customers may also use the official MoMo NG App from their app store. Do not click unknown links or download unknown apps.
A WhatsApp message says to forward it to get ₦20,000.
Chain messages are fake. Forwarding a message does not make anyone a beneficiary. Delete it.
Someone says they can add me to the list.
No one can add you to the list, for a fee or as a favour. Do not pay. Report the offer to the programme help line.
Who to contact
Who do I call for help?
For questions about your wallet or payment, call your provider. For questions about the programme, call the programme help line.
- ALAT by Wema: 0803 900 3700
- MoMo PSB: 671 or 0803 106 7100
- NairaGram: 0201 330 0880 or 0201 330 0881
- NERSI programme help line: 0700-022-2222
