Find out how MTN users can check eligibility and access the FG’s N50,000 monthly grant through MoMo PSB, while avoiding fraud

MTN subscribers selected for the Federal Government’s N50,000 monthly relief programme can check their eligibility and accept the support through the MoMo Payment Service Bank (PSB) USSD code, as the telecommunications company warns customers against fake messages targeting prospective beneficiaries.

Also read: NSCDC Sanctions 66 Personnel Over Misconduct, Arms Dealing

The intervention, known as the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is designed to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households across Nigeria.

MTN Nigeria Support issued the warning after a social media message began circulating, advising subscribers who had not received payments or whose eligibility status showed “NOT ELIGIBLE” to send “YES” to an unofficial code. The message falsely promised that recipients would receive the money within 24 hours.

The company clarified that the instruction did not originate from MTN and urged subscribers to disregard it.

In a warning posted in response to the circulating message, MTN Support cautioned users against clicking unverified links, disclosing personal information, sharing one-time passwords (OTPs), PINs or passwords, or making payments based on unsolicited instructions.

“Please be informed that the information shared is not from MTN. Kindly disregard the message and do not click on any unverified links, share personal information, OTPs, PINs, passwords, or make any payments based on such messages,” the company stated.

According to the official NERSI portal, beneficiaries are selected using verified national identity records and the National Social Register.

Those selected are contacted through approved payment providers, including MoMo PSB, ALAT by Wema, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.

For MTN subscribers, MoMo PSB is the designated payment provider.

To check their eligibility, MTN users can dial *671*0# from the phone number registered for the programme and follow the instructions displayed on their screens.

Subscribers who receive an official notification confirming their selection should follow the instructions in the message or use the USSD code to give their consent to receive the payment.

Where a genuine MoMo notification appears on a subscriber’s phone, requesting acceptance of the support, the recipient should follow the prompt and select the appropriate option to confirm consent.

Beneficiaries who do not already have a MoMo wallet can register by dialling *671# or downloading the official MoMo NG application.

Once the N50,000 is credited, recipients can access the money through the MoMo application, USSD service or a MoMo agent. The funds can also be transferred to a bank account.

The Federal Government had explained that beneficiaries would receive an SMS from their designated payment providers requesting consent before the money was transferred to their mobile wallets.

In an October 30 statement announcing the commencement of the intervention, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, said eligible beneficiaries would receive N50,000 monthly to help meet essential needs and reduce the pressure of rising living costs.

“Beneficiaries will receive an SMS from one of these providers asking for their consent. This message is genuine. Once consent is given, payment is made directly to the beneficiary’s account/mobile wallet,” Doro stated.

The minister stressed that beneficiaries were not required to submit applications, pay fees or register through agents to receive the support.

The ministry also warned Nigerians against disclosing their PINs and Bank Verification Numbers to other people.

The NERSI portal similarly states that the programme is free and that selected beneficiaries are contacted in batches.

It advises users to dial their respective payment providers’ USSD codes and select the eligibility-check option.

Subscribers whose status reads “NOT SELECTED” are not necessarily permanently excluded, as the payments are being distributed in phases.

However, the government has not guaranteed that everyone excluded from the current batch will receive the grant in a subsequent round.

Also read: NSCDC Sanctions 66 Personnel Over Misconduct, Arms Dealing

For enquiries or complaints, beneficiaries can contact the NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222 or MoMo PSB customer support on 671.