Nigerians expecting to receive the Federal Government’s N50,000 household relief grant have been given an explanation for the delay in receiving text message notifications.
The government says the financial assistance is not being distributed to all approved recipients simultaneously, as payment companies are contacting beneficiaries in different batches.
Consequently, some Nigerians who have been selected may have to wait longer before receiving the SMS containing instructions on how to claim their money. 
The clarification was provided in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) website, as reported by PUNCH Online on Thursday.
The government explained that the ongoing distribution process was deliberately arranged in phases, adding that a delayed notification should not immediately be interpreted as rejection.
Five platforms responsible for grant payments
The N50,000 intervention is being implemented through five approved financial service providers: ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
According to the programme guidelines, selected households will receive their financial assistance through mobile wallets operated by these companies.
Once a beneficiary is identified, the assigned provider sends a text message explaining the steps required to accept the offer.
Recipients must follow the instructions and use the USSD code provided in the notification to confirm acceptance before the money is credited to their wallets.
How beneficiaries can confirm their selection
The Federal Government has also provided a means for Nigerians to establish whether they qualify for the intervention without waiting indefinitely for an SMS.
Individuals can dial the USSD code belonging to their assigned payment provider and select the option for checking beneficiary eligibility.
Those who have not been picked for the current distribution phase will receive a response stating: “You are currently not selected to receive this relief support.”
The government, however, noted that the intervention is intended for a limited number of households at a time, meaning not everyone will benefit from the ongoing phase.
How the government selected recipients
Unlike conventional grant programmes that allow members of the public to submit applications, the NERSI intervention uses existing government records to identify eligible households.
The authorities said the selection process relies on information contained in the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
Beneficiaries are chosen based on their level of need, with households across the six geopolitical zones considered regardless of their religious beliefs, ethnic backgrounds or political affiliations.
FG issues warning over fake grant agents
The government has warned Nigerians to be wary of people demanding money in exchange for assistance with beneficiary registration, selection or payment processing.
It maintained that no individual can influence the list of selected households or make payments arrive faster by collecting money from prospective beneficiaries.
The programme’s guidelines describe anyone making such promises in exchange for payment as a fraudster.
Nigerians have also been advised not to disclose confidential financial information, including their PINs, one-time passwords and Bank Verification Numbers, to people claiming to represent the intervention.
N50,000 payment is not a loan
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction is coordinating the intervention to provide financial relief to vulnerable households facing increasing living expenses.
The government has emphasised that the N50,000 payment is a grant and does not have to be repaid by recipients.
It also stressed that checking eligibility, accepting the offer, receiving the money and responding to official programme messages do not attract any charges.
