Lost your SIM card after FG’s ₦50,000 relief payment? Here’s what to do

Nigerians who lose their mobile phones or SIM cards after receiving the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief payment do not automatically lose their money, as the government has explained how affected beneficiaries can recover access to their funds.

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction disclosed that payments under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) are linked to beneficiaries’ registered phone numbers and mobile wallets.

According to the ministry, individuals who lose their phones or SIM cards should immediately contact their designated financial service providers to protect their wallets from unauthorised access.

They should subsequently approach their mobile network operators to obtain replacement SIM cards bearing their original phone numbers.

The government explained that money already credited to a beneficiary’s wallet remains available even if the phone or SIM card is lost.

However, recipients may be temporarily unable to access their funds until they complete the necessary recovery procedures.

The Federal Government explained that the NERSI programme uses mobile wallets linked to beneficiaries’ verified identity records and registered phone numbers.

Once a selected individual accepts the grant, the designated financial service provider credits the ₦50,000 to the beneficiary’s wallet.

The wallet is associated with the person’s account information rather than being stored physically on the SIM card.

Consequently, losing the SIM does not automatically erase the funds.

However, the loss could create security concerns, particularly if another person gains access to the beneficiary’s phone.

According to the ministry, beneficiaries should report such incidents immediately so their financial service providers can take steps to secure their accounts.

The government also advised recipients not to share their Personal Identification Numbers or One-Time Passwords with anyone offering to recover the money.

The ministry has outlined a recovery procedure for beneficiaries who lose their mobile phones or SIM cards.

The first step is to contact the financial service provider responsible for the NERSI payment.

Beneficiaries should explain that their phones or SIM cards have been lost and request assistance in protecting their mobile wallets.

Depending on the provider’s procedures, this may involve temporarily restricting account access or completing additional identity verification.

The next step is to contact the relevant mobile network operator to request a replacement SIM card with the original phone number.

For example, a beneficiary whose registered number belongs to MTN, Airtel, Glo or 9mobile should contact that network’s official customer service or SIM replacement channel.

Once the replacement is completed, the beneficiary can follow the financial service provider’s instructions to regain access to the wallet.

The ministry says the ₦50,000 remains in the wallet, although the time required to restore access may vary.

The Federal Government explained that beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.

Phone numbers associated with those records are used to contact selected individuals and facilitate payment.

This means that the registered number plays an important role in accessing the grant.

A beneficiary who loses access to the number may therefore experience difficulties receiving payment notifications or completing USSD transactions.

The government’s guidance recommends replacing a lost SIM with another SIM bearing the same number.

However, it does not provide a detailed public procedure for transferring an existing NERSI wallet to an entirely different phone number.

Beneficiaries who cannot recover their original numbers should contact their designated providers for guidance rather than attempting to register through unofficial websites.

The government has identified five approved financial service providers for the programme.

They are ALAT by Wema Bank, MoMo Payment Service Bank, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.

Each provider operates its own customer support arrangements for wallet-related issues.

According to the official NERSI guidance, beneficiaries experiencing account access problems should contact their designated providers directly.

They should avoid relying on telephone numbers circulated through unverified WhatsApp messages or social media posts.

The government has also provided 0700-022-2222 as the NERSI helpline for general enquiries and complaints.

Beneficiaries can use this channel to seek clarification about the programme, although wallet security and recovery issues may require assistance from the payment provider itself.

The ministry has warned beneficiaries to take immediate action if they suspect unauthorised access to their mobile wallets.

Affected individuals should contact their payment providers and request appropriate account protection.

They should also report any suspicious transactions through the providers’ official complaint channels.

If a beneficiary has disclosed a PIN or OTP, the provider should be informed so the relevant credentials can be secured or reset.

The government cautioned that legitimate programme officials will never request such information to release or recover the grant.

Importantly, the ministry’s assurance that funds remain in a wallet after SIM loss does not constitute a guarantee that money withdrawn fraudulently will automatically be refunded.

Such incidents would require investigation and resolution through the relevant financial institution.

The Federal Government has explained that the grant belongs to the selected beneficiary.

Although trusted relatives may assist individuals who are unfamiliar with mobile phone services, they should not take control of the beneficiary’s wallet or security credentials.

The ministry advised recipients to enter their PINs personally and avoid handing over their phones to individuals offering payment assistance.

Beneficiaries should also disregard anyone demanding money to restore their NERSI accounts.

Further information is available on the official Federal Government NERSI portal.

For recipients who lose their phones or SIM cards, the government’s central advice is to contact the payment provider immediately, secure the wallet and recover the original phone number through the network operator.