No smartphone, no internet? How Nigerians can still receive FG’s ₦50,000 relief

Nigerians who do not own smartphones or have access to the internet can still receive the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 relief payment, provided they have been selected as beneficiaries of the intervention.

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction explained that the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) has been designed to accommodate people who rely on basic mobile phones.

According to the ministry, selected beneficiaries can accept their grants and access their money through designated Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes.

This means that eligible Nigerians do not necessarily need to download mobile banking applications, purchase internet data or own expensive devices to participate.

However, the government stressed that having a mobile phone does not automatically qualify someone for the ₦50,000 payment.

Beneficiaries must first be selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.

The ministry explained that the programme uses mobile wallets linked to beneficiaries’ registered phone numbers.

Once an individual is selected, an approved financial service provider sends an SMS notification informing them of their eligibility.

The message contains instructions for accepting the support.

According to the government, beneficiaries can provide consent by dialling their designated payment provider’s USSD code.

Once the required steps are completed, a mobile wallet is opened or made available for the beneficiary, and the ₦50,000 is credited.

The recipient subsequently receives a confirmation message.

The ministry says the process can be completed using a basic mobile phone without an internet connection.

This arrangement could be particularly useful for vulnerable Nigerians who have limited access to smartphones or digital banking applications.

The Federal Government has approved five financial service providers for the programme.

Each provider has a designated USSD code that allows beneficiaries to access relevant services.

The codes published on the official NERSI website are:

According to the ministry, these codes can be used to check eligibility, accept the support and access payment services.

However, beneficiaries should follow the instructions from their designated providers.

The government has warned against using unfamiliar codes circulated through social media or responding to messages requesting sensitive banking information.

The ministry explained that the intervention is intended to deliver financial assistance directly to poor and vulnerable households.

Rather than relying exclusively on conventional bank accounts, the programme uses mobile wallets linked to verified identity records.

This arrangement allows selected beneficiaries to receive funds through their registered phone numbers.

It also provides an alternative for individuals who may not regularly use mobile banking applications.

The government says the payment system is designed to reduce reliance on intermediaries and make the process more transparent.

However, beneficiaries still need access to their registered phone numbers and must complete the required consent procedures.

The ministry has not published detailed figures showing how many recipients are using basic phones compared with smartphones.

According to the government, beneficiaries do not necessarily need conventional bank accounts to receive their grants.

Once the money has been credited to their mobile wallets, recipients can use approved financial channels to access it.

One option is to transfer the desired amount to a POS agent who will provide cash.

Beneficiaries can also use their payment providers’ authorised agent networks where available.

For example, MoMo PSB beneficiaries can visit approved MoMo agents, while ALAT users can access assistance through Wema Bank branches.

The ministry also explained that recipients may withdraw part of the grant and leave the remaining balance in their wallets.

However, POS agents may charge their usual withdrawal fees.

Some beneficiaries may require assistance navigating USSD menus, particularly individuals who are unfamiliar with mobile financial services.

The ministry explained that a trusted family member may help a beneficiary dial the relevant code.

However, the beneficiary must enter their PIN personally and should not surrender their phone or disclose sensitive security information.

The government stressed that the money belongs to the selected beneficiary and cannot be collected by another person without proper authorisation.

It also warned that no agent or government official should request a beneficiary’s PIN, one-time password or Bank Verification Number.

Anyone who receives such a request should stop the transaction and contact their payment provider.

The ministry has also provided guidance for beneficiaries who lose their phones or SIM cards.

According to the official programme FAQ, affected individuals should contact their payment providers immediately so their mobile wallets can be protected.

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

The government explained that funds already credited to a beneficiary’s wallet remain available despite the loss of the phone.

However, access may be interrupted until the beneficiary restores the relevant phone number or completes the provider’s recovery procedures.

For further enquiries, Nigerians can visit the official NERSI website or contact the programme helpline on 0700-022-2222.

The ministry maintains that no smartphone, internet subscription or public registration is required for selected beneficiaries to access the relief support.