Eligible OPay customers will receive a notification on their app homepage to access the Federal Government's monthly cash support, while those without the alert are not qualified. The fintech warns beneficiaries against sharing their PINs, OTPs or paying agents.

OPay has explained how Nigerians can determine whether they qualify for the Federal Government's N50,000 monthly cash relief programme, warning customers to be cautious of fraudsters attempting to exploit the intervention.

The fintech company said the financial assistance, introduced under the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), is available only to citizens who meet the government's eligibility requirements.

In a clarification published on its official X account on Tuesday, November 3, OPay disclosed that qualified customers would receive a pop-up notification directly on the homepage of their mobile application.

According to the company, beneficiaries should click on the notification and follow the instructions provided to complete the necessary steps.

However, OPay stressed that customers who cannot find the notification on their app are not eligible for the current intervention.

The company also clarified that it does not select beneficiaries or determine who qualifies for the Federal Government's financial assistance.

"Customers who are unable to see the feature on the app are not eligible for it. Please note that we do not determine your eligibility," the company stated.

OPay directed customers seeking further clarification to contact the NERSI support line on 0700-022-2222.

OPay Warns Against Fraudsters

Beyond explaining the eligibility process, the fintech company issued a strong warning against scammers who may attempt to deceive Nigerians by promising to facilitate access to the N50,000 relief payment.

OPay emphasised that it would never request customers' personal identification numbers (PINs) or one-time passwords (OTPs) to process the government support payment.

It also warned customers against paying individuals or agents claiming they could secure approval for the intervention.

The company urged Nigerians to avoid suspicious links and rely exclusively on its official mobile application or the designated USSD code, 95520#, to check their eligibility.

The warning comes amid growing public interest in the Federal Government's cash support programme, particularly as many Nigerians seek financial assistance to cope with rising living costs.

FG Begins N50,000 Monthly Payments

The clarification follows the Federal Government's announcement that disbursement of the N50,000 monthly relief package to vulnerable Nigerians has commenced.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the development in a statement issued on October 30.

He explained that the intervention was designed to provide direct financial assistance to vulnerable households and help them meet essential needs amid prevailing economic challenges.

Under the programme, qualified beneficiaries are expected to receive N50,000 monthly, with the intervention subject to periodic reviews.

The ministry is working with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure that payments reach beneficiaries through secure and transparent channels.

According to the government, beneficiaries will first receive an SMS requesting their consent before the approved payment is transferred directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.

Approved USSD Codes for Checking Eligibility

The Federal Government has listed several participating financial service providers and their designated USSD codes through which Nigerians can check their eligibility.

They include:

- ALAT by Wema Bank: 94523#

- MoMo PSB: 6710#

- NairaGram: 72600#

- OPay: 95520#

- Moniepoint: 557327#

The government has also emphasised that Nigerians do not need to complete a separate application, pay registration fees or engage agents to access the intervention.

Doro warned citizens against sharing sensitive banking information, including their PINs and Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), with individuals claiming to represent the programme.

He advised anyone uncertain about messages or instructions relating to the intervention to contact the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222.

The government says the programme is intended to provide relief to vulnerable Nigerians, while the involvement of licensed digital financial service providers is expected to support the secure delivery of the funds.