FG N50,000: What To Do If You Got Not Selected Alert

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FG N50,000: What To Do If You Got Not Selected Alert

The Federal Government has explained what Nigerians should do if they check their phone and see "You are currently not selected to receive this relief support" for the N50,000 monthly cash support.

The message is from the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), the Federal Government programme that pays N50,000 monthly to selected vulnerable households across Nigeria, including in Imo State.

The explanation came after thousands of Nigerians in Owerri, Orlu, Okigwe, Aboh Mbaise, Mbaitoli, and other parts of Imo State dialled their payment codes last week and got the NOT SELECTED message - and panic started on WhatsApp.

Why This Matters In Imo

In Imo, N50,000 is not small money.

For a trader at Ekeukwu Market, Owerri Municipal LGA, N50,000 is two weeks of garri, rice, and school fees. For a farmer in Oguta LGA, it is fertilizer and transport to Owerri. For a student in Owerri North LGA, it is hostel rent and data for online classes.

That is why when people in Imo dialled *671*0# and saw NOT SELECTED, many thought they had lost the money forever. Some paid agents N5,000, N10,000 to "add their name". That is exactly what the Federal Government says you must NOT do.

What The Federal Government Actually Said

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the NERSI programme on October 30, 2026.

Dr Doro said: "Under this intervention, eligible beneficiaries will receive N50,000 monthly, providing direct assistance to help meet essential needs and ease the burden of living costs."

He also said beneficiaries do NOT need to apply, pay any fee, or register through an agent to receive the support.

"If you are unsure about any message, or anyone asks you for money, call the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222," Dr Doro said.

That is the official position from the Federal Government - not from a WhatsApp broadcast.

What NOT SELECTED Really Means - FG Explains

According to the programme's official guidelines, reported by Punch, Legit, and The Point on November 3-6, 2026, there are two reasons you may see NOT SELECTED:

1. Payments are in batches.
Approved providers contact beneficiaries in phases. Some selected people will get their SMS this week. Others will get theirs in the next batch. Not everyone is notified at the same time.

2. Limited number per phase.
The programme supports a limited number of households at a time. It covers all six geopolitical zones, but not everyone will be selected in the current phase.

The Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP), in a Facebook post quoted by Punch, said it clearly:

"Those who have not received an SMS but checked their status and saw 'NOT SELECTED' should remain patient and wait for the next batch."

But YEIDEP also added an honest warning: it did NOT guarantee that everyone who sees NOT SELECTED will receive the grant in a later batch.

That is the truth. NOT SELECTED does NOT mean you are permanently out. It also does NOT guarantee you will be in next batch. It means: you are not in this batch, wait.

What You Should Do NOW - Step By Step For Imo People

If you are in Owerri, Orlu, Okigwe, or any LGA in Imo, do these 5 things - and nothing else:

Step 1: Check properly, with the CORRECT code.
Do not use a code from WhatsApp. Use only these 5 official providers:

• ALAT by Wema Bank: *945*23#
• MoMo PSB (MTN): *671*0#
• NairaGram: *726*00#
• OPay: *955*20#
• Moniepoint: *557*327#

Dial the code for your provider, select "Check eligibility" or "Check status". Use the phone number linked to your NIN.

Step 2: If you see NOT SELECTED, STOP. Do NOT pay anyone.
Nobody can add your name. Nobody can speed up your payment. The Federal Government said selection is from the National Social Register and verified national identity records. There is no public application form.

If a man in your market in Aboh Mbaise, or a boy in your WhatsApp group in Mbaitoli, says "Bring N10,000, I will add your name" - it is SCAM. Block him.

Step 3: Wait for next batch - but keep your phone ON.
Beneficiaries are contacted by SMS from approved providers only. Keep the SIM you used for NIN active. Do not change your number now. If you are selected in the next batch, the SMS will come to that number.

Step 4: Do NOT share your PIN, OTP, or BVN.
OPay said in a statement on its official X account: "OPay will never ask for your PIN or OTP to process a NERSI relief payment. Do not pay any agent or click unverified links."

MTN Nigeria Support also warned in a public reply: "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."

That warning was about the fake "Send YES to get N50,000 in 24 hours" message circulating in Imo and other states. It is fake.

Step 5: If you are unsure, call NERSI directly.
Official NERSI Helpline: 0700-022-2222

You can also contact your provider directly:
- ALAT by Wema: 0803 900 3700
- MoMo PSB: 671 or 0803 106 7100
- NairaGram: 0201 330 0880 or 0201 330 0881
- OPay: 0700 888 8328

Do NOT call a number from a WhatsApp broadcast. Use only the numbers above.

The Other Side: Why Some Nigerians Are Angry

Not everyone believes the Federal Government's explanation.

Some Nigerians say the process is not transparent. They ask: "If there is no application, how do we know who was selected and why? Why did my neighbour in Owerri get it and I did not, when we are both struggling?"

That anger is real, and it is understandable. When money is scarce, and selection is hidden, people suspect favouritism.

Imo Media Hub asked the Ministry for a full list of selected beneficiaries by LGA. As at time of filing this report, the Ministry has not published a list by LGA. The Ministry says selection is based on need from the National Social Register.

We will update this story when the Ministry publishes the LGA breakdown for Imo State.

The other side of the argument is from the providers. OPay said: "Please note that we do not determine your eligibility. Kindly contact NERSI at 07000222222 for assistance."

In plain words: OPay, MoMo, ALAT, NairaGram, and Moniepoint did not choose who gets the money. They only pay who FG selected. So shouting at a POS agent in Owerri will not change your status.

What Changed, Why It Happened, And What Comes Next

What changed: Before October 30, there was no NERSI. Now, FG is paying N50,000 monthly in batches, through 5 providers, with no application.

Why it happened: The Federal Government says it is to cushion the rising cost of living - food, transport, school fees. The amount will be reviewed regularly, and beneficiaries will be told before any change, according to Dr Doro.

What comes next:
1. Next batch: More SMS notifications will go out in phases. If you got NOT SELECTED, you may be in next batch - or you may not. No one can guarantee it.
2. More scam messages: As long as N50,000 is involved, scammers in Imo and other states will create new fake codes, fake links, fake "YES" messages. Ignore all of them.
3. LGA data: Imo Media Hub will keep asking the Ministry for the Imo LGA breakdown. If your LGA has not received any payment yet, we will report it.

What We Verified - And What We Did Not

Verified:
- Minister Dr Bernard Doro announced NERSI on Oct 30, 2026. N50,000 monthly to selected vulnerable households.
- 5 official providers and USSD codes are as listed above.
- Official NERSI helpline is 0700-022-2222.
- YEIDEP said NOT SELECTED people should wait for next batch, with no guarantee.
- MTN Support and OPay warned against fake YES code and PIN/OTP requests.

Not verified:
- WhatsApp message saying "Send YES to [fake code] to get N50,000 in 24 hours" - FALSE. Disregard.
- Any list claiming "Imo beneficiaries - 5,000 people in Orlu, 3,000 in Owerri" - FALSE. No official LGA list has been published.
- Any agent claiming he can add your name for N5,000 - FALSE. Scam.

Did you check your status? What did you see - SELECTED or NOT SELECTED? Drop your LGA + Provider in comments: "Owerri - MoMo - NOT SELECTED" or "Orlu - OPay - SELECTED". Let's see which LGA and provider is paying most in Imo. And share this to save someone in your contact from paying a scammer today.

This report originally appeared on Imo Media Hub - www.imomediahub.org

Sources:
- Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction - Minister Dr Bernard Doro, statement Oct 30, 2026
- Punch, Nov 3, 2026 (Updated Nov 8) - "FG begins N50,000 relief payments to vulnerable Nigerians"
- Legit, Nov 6, 2026 - "FG Explains What Nigerians Should Do if Not Selected"
- YEIDEP Facebook post, quoted by Punch - "Remain patient and wait for next batch"
- OPay official X account - "OPay will never ask for PIN or OTP"
- MTN Nigeria Support official reply - "Information is not from MTN, disregard"