LAGOS — Digital financial services provider OPay has issued an operational clarification detailing how customers can check their eligibility for the Federal Government’s newly launched ₦50,000 monthly cash relief intervention, while warning account holders against falling prey to third-party scams.

The clarification follows the rollout of the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

Eligibility Verification Flow

Addressing inquiries from account holders, OPay clarified that selection into the relief scheme is strictly managed by federal government authorities through verified social register databases rather than internal financial institution metrics.

According to the fintech operator, customers can determine their status through two official channels:

1. App Homepage Notification: Qualified beneficiaries will receive an automated pop-up notification directly on their OPay mobile application home screen. Users who do not see this prompt are currently not listed as eligible for the active disbursement batch.

2. Dedicated USSD Shortcode: Customers can check eligibility directly on their registered mobile lines by dialing *955*20#.

“The ₦50,000 monthly Federal Government cash support is available only to eligible citizens. Please note that we do not determine your eligibility. Customers who are unable to see the feature on the app are advised to contact NERSI directly via their official helpline at 0700-022-2222 for assistance,” OPay stated in an official advisory.

Anti-Fraud & Security Directives

Amid reports of fraudulent links and unofficial registration forms circulating online, OPay reinforced strict security guidance:

• No Credentials Required: OPay will never request a customer’s Personal Identification Number (PIN), One-Time Password (OTP), or Bank Verification Number (BVN) to process or release NERSI disbursements.

• Zero Fees / No Agents: No payment, registration charge, or middleman fee is required to receive the grant.

• Unverified Links: Customers are advised to ignore phishing SMS messages or social media links directing them to external websites claiming to register or clear blocked payments.

Partner Bank USSD Access Codes

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed that in addition to OPay, several licensed financial service providers are facilitating disbursements under identical automated check protocols:

Government officials reiterated that disbursements are being deployed in phases across the six geopolitical zones, urging non-selected citizens to await subsequent verification batches without engaging unverified third parties.