Wema Bank customers have been given a USSD option to verify their eligibility for the Federal Government’s N50,000 National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention without requiring internet access.
The facility, introduced through the bank’s ALAT platform, allows selected beneficiaries to check their status and confirm acceptance of the financial assistance using their mobile phones.
The intervention, coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, is designed to cushion the impact of rising living costs on poor and vulnerable households across the country.
To check their eligibility, customers are required to dial 94523# using the telephone number linked to their Wema Bank accounts and follow the instructions to establish whether they have been selected.
Those who qualify can accept the offer through the USSD prompts, after which a mobile wallet will be activated and the N50,000 support credited. Successful beneficiaries are expected to receive an SMS confirming payment.
The Federal Government said beneficiaries are selected using verified national identity records and the National Social Register. However, having a Wema Bank or ALAT account does not automatically make a customer eligible, as selection is determined by the government's records.
The payment is being released in phases, meaning qualified beneficiaries may receive notifications at different times. The government has also clarified that there is no public registration or application process for the intervention.
Beneficiaries are not required to pay registration, activation or processing fees to access the money. Customers have also been cautioned against fraudsters demanding payment or confidential banking details, including ATM PINs and one-time passwords, to facilitate the grant.
