The Federal Government has announced that its ₦50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) programme is open to vulnerable households across all six geopolitical zones, including the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The clarification was issued by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in a statement signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Janet Mcdickson Noah, on Friday, following questions from Nigerians about the geographical coverage and eligibility requirements for the financial assistance.

The ministry explained that the programme covers all states in the South-West, South-East, South-South, North-Central, North-East and North-West regions of the country.

In the South-West, the beneficiary areas include Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states.

The South-East coverage comprises Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, while the South-South includes Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.

For the North-Central region, the programme covers Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states, alongside the FCT.

The North-East states included are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, while the North-West comprises Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.

Who Qualifies For The ₦50,000 NERSI Grant?

According to the ministry, beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records, with eligibility determined by poverty levels and vulnerability.

The government stressed that the intervention is designed to support households facing financial difficulties due to the rising cost of living.

Each successful beneficiary will receive ₦50,000, which the government emphasised is a grant and not a loan.

It also assured Nigerians that recipients would receive the full amount without deductions.

The ministry added that the selection process covers all six geopolitical zones and is not influenced by religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.

How Beneficiaries Can Confirm And Receive The Money

The Federal Government explained that payments would be released in phases, meaning beneficiaries might not receive notifications at the same time.

It clarified that failure to receive a text message immediately does not automatically mean an individual has been excluded from the programme.

According to the statement, phone numbers used for notifications were obtained from the same verified records used during the selection process.

The ministry also assured Nigerians that their personal information would be protected under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

It warned beneficiaries against fraudsters, stressing that no government official or authorised payment provider would request their Personal Identification Number (PIN), One-Time Password (OTP) or Bank Verification Number (BVN).

Successful applicants will receive text messages from one of five approved payment providers: ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.

The notification will identify the selected payment provider and contain a USSD code that beneficiaries can dial to accept the financial assistance.

The ministry further disclosed that beneficiaries could independently dial their provider’s USSD code and select the option for checking their eligibility.

It advised Nigerians to ensure that any notification they receive comes from the official sender names of the approved payment providers.

The government urged selected recipients to follow the instructions in their messages and accept the grant to activate their mobile wallets, after which the ₦50,000 would be credited.

It emphasised that receiving a notification alone does not guarantee payment, as beneficiaries must first accept the offer.

The ministry added that anyone who mistakenly rejects the offer by selecting ‘No’ can dial the USSD code again and change the response to ‘Yes’.

However, those who leave their responses on ‘No’ will not receive the payment.

It also clarified that beneficiaries do not need smartphones or internet access to complete the process, as the USSD service works on basic mobile phones.

Customers of MoMo PSB, OPay and Moniepoint can equally access their wallets through the providers’ official mobile applications.

How To Withdraw The ₦50,000 NERSI Grant

The Federal Government stated that beneficiaries could withdraw their funds through Point-of-Sale (POS) agents by transferring money from their mobile wallets.

Recipients can withdraw the entire ₦50,000 or take out only part of the money while leaving the remaining balance in their wallets.

The ministry also explained that beneficiaries could transfer the funds to any bank account, including another person’s account, using USSD or their payment provider’s application.

It warned Nigerians that accepting the grant, receiving the money and responding to official programme messages are completely free.

The government urged beneficiaries not to pay anyone for access to the intervention or to secure a place on the list, warning that such demands could be fraudulent.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has praised the reconciliation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has rejected claims that inadequate gas supply was responsible for the decline in electricity generation across the country.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The national oil company maintained that its pipeline network is fully operational and capable of transporting gas to power plants nationwide, insisting that there are no blockages within its system that could account for the drop in electricity output.

In a statement, NNPCL explained that its subsidiary, the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC), operates a functional gas transportation network capable of supplying power stations across Nigeria without disruption.

The company added that NGIC’s daily operational records showed no transportation challenges responsible for the reduction in electricity generation.

The position places NNPCL at odds with the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), which had earlier attributed the decline in power generation to insufficient gas supply and reduced water levels at hydroelectric power stations.

NISO made the assertion on November 5, citing the two factors as major contributors to the country’s electricity challenges.

However, NNPCL disputed the explanation, noting that Nigeria’s gas production had increased by approximately 10 per cent since the beginning of 2026.

The company attributed the growth to the Federal Government’s efforts to expand the country’s gas sector and maximise revenue from its natural resources.

“Our focus remains on dependable energy infrastructure and constructive collaboration that helps translate Nigeria’s gas resources into more reliable electricity for Nigerians,” the company stated.