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Ex-N’Assembly members, groups fault Reps 31 new states’ proposal
The House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee’s proposed creation of 31 additional states besides the country’s 36 existing states has sparked widespread reactions from prominent Nigerians and groups across the country.
The proposal was contained in a letter to the House of Representatives read during Thursday’s plenary by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session in the absence of the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.
However, the proposal was rejected by the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, and its northern counterpart, the Arewa Consultative Forum, which described it as ridiculous.
The committee, chaired by Kalu, proposed an additional six new states in the North-Central, four in the North-East, five in the North-West, five in the South-South, and seven in the South-West.
The states being considered include Okun, Okura and Confluence from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa from Benue; FCT State; Amana from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi; Savannah from Borno; Muri from Taraba; New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna State; Tiga and Ari from Kano; Kainji from Kebbi; Etiti and Orashi as the sixth states in the South-East; Adada from Enugu; and Orlu and Aba.
Others are Ogoja from Cross River, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers, Torumbe from Ondo, Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, and Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun, and Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun States.
The letter read in part, “The Committee proposes the creation of 31 new states. As amended, this section outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to initiate the process of state creation, which include the following:
“New state and boundaries; An act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if it requires support by at least the third majority of members.
‘’The House of Representatives, the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area is received by the National Assembly.
“Local government advocates for the creation of additional local government areas are only reminded that section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, applies to this process.
“Specifically, in accordance with section 8 (3) of the Constitution, the outcome of the votes of the State Houses of Assembly in the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for fulfilment of state demands.
“Proposals shall be resubmitted in strict adherence to the stipulations. Submit three hard copies of the full proposal of the memoranda to the Secretariat of the Committee in Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, and Abuja.
“Sub-copies must also be sent electronically to the committee’s email address at info.hccr.gov.nj. For further information or contact, please contact the Committee Clerk at 08069-232381.
“The committee remains committed to supporting the implementing efforts that align with the Constitutional provisions and would only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines. This is coming from the Clerk of the Committee on Constitutional Review.’’
Taking a dim view of the bill, the National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu, explained that the proposed state creation negated Afenifere’s demand for true federalism.
He said, “The recent proposal by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review to create 31 new states does not align with Afenifere’s long-standing demand for true federalism.
“Instead of addressing the core structural issues plaguing Nigeria, this initiative appears to be a mere political exercise that will further weaken governance and deepen economic inefficiencies.’’
Afenifere has consistently advocated genuine fiscal federalism, similar to what Nigeria’s founding fathers agreed upon before independence.
Omololu noted, “The creation of more states without a viable economic foundation will only compound the financial burden on the nation, as many existing states are already struggling to generate sufficient Internally Generated Revenue and rely heavily on federal allocations to survive.
‘’Turning every local government into a state is not the solution to Nigeria’s governance challenges. The real issue is not the number of states but the dysfunctional federal structure that has concentrated power at the centre, stifling regional development.’’
Instead of proliferating states that may later be unviable, Afenifere urged the National Assembly to focus on constitutional reforms that would devolve power, return resource control to the regions, and grant states the autonomy to develop at their own pace.
“Nigeria needs a system where states or regions control their resources and contribute an agreed percentage to the federal government, just as it was during the First Republic. This is the only path to sustainable development, not the reckless creation of more administrative units.
“Afenifere rejects this proposal and calls on well-meaning Nigerians to resist attempts to distract from the real conversation—restructuring and true federalism,” Omololu declared.
The Arewa Consultative Forum similarly expressed strong opposition to the proposed creation of 31 new states, describing the idea as unnecessary.
The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba, stated that the forum was not in support of the proposed creation of new states, citing the country’s complexity and the potential for creating more problems.
According to him, the more states created, the more demands that will emerge, leading to more acrimonies.
He questioned the economic viability of the existing 36 states, highlighting the administrative burdens and overhead costs associated with governorship and civil service.
The ACF spokesperson emphasised that creating new states would be too expensive and unnecessary, and would only provide opportunities for the elite to assume leadership positions without necessarily improving the economic viability of the states.
He said, “We have not seen the details of the proposed states, but it’s ridiculous. How long are we going to be creating states and creating problems in this country?
“How many of the 36 states are viable economically? How many of the states can carry the administrative burdens of governorship and all it takes – the civil service and the amount of expenditure on overhead?
“Honestly, I don’t think the creation of states is our priority because it’s too expensive and unnecessary, and there is no way it will stop. It’s opening up room for more demands and more acrimony.”
Instead of creating new states, he advised the government to focus on addressing the social and economic challenges facing the people.
“We hope that more rational heads will prevail over the issue, but right now, honestly, it’s not the priority; affecting the lives, and the social-economic standing of the people is a better objective to pursue.
“Creation of state as we have seen will not solve our problems. It will give some elites a chance to assume leadership positions with all the perks that are attached to the office, but honestly, we don’t think economically, they will be viable,” Muhammad-Baba said.
But the National President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, endorsed the proposal for additional states.
Speaking in Jos on Thursday, Pogu described the proposal as a welcome development that addresses the country’s long-standing issues of equity and governance.
As a proponent of the Savannah state, Pogu emphasized that the MBF supports the proposal, citing the need for a more inclusive and representative system of government.
“The challenge of Nigeria requires a lot of tinkering to get it right. There has been no equity in the whole process of governing Nigeria”, he said
Pogu highlighted the example of Southern Borno, which has never produced a governor, with the position always being held by either Northern or Central Borno.
He argued that the proposed creation of new states would help address the plurality of Nigeria and promote a more equitable distribution of power and resources.
The MBF has long advocated for greater autonomy and representation for the region’s diverse ethnic groups
The proposed creation of new states is seen as a significant step towards addressing the historical injustices and imbalances in the country’s governance structure.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide declared that the South-East should be allocated more states to address ‘’the wrongs that had been done to the region on state creation.’’
Ohanaeze’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, stated, “It is unfortunate that such a bill is also aimed at suppressing the South-East as usual. It is completely unacceptable that Southeast should be appropriated only five states.
‘’South-East, all these while, is the only zone in the Federal Republic of Nigeria that has the least number of states irrespective of our population and our contributions both economically and infrastructural development of the nation.
“So, giving southeast such a small number of five states in this bill when others that already have advantages orchestrated by successive governments before now is quite unacceptable and unfortunately, it is above all antithetical to the commonwealth of the South-Easterners and the so-called equity we are preaching in the country.”
He added, “South-East deserves more states more than any other zone in the country because South-East is the only zone that has been short-changed over the years by successive governments. So, if justice and equity should prevail southeast must be given the highest number of states.’’
“So, if the Federal Government fails to correct the wrongs that had been done to the South-East over the years, this is the time to at least give this equation some terms of balance by appropriating more number states to the South-East to make up with the other geopolitical zones.”
The Pan-Niger Delta Forum observed that the creation of more states could be meaningful if all the geo-political zones in the country have equal states as agreed in the last constitutional conference.
The spokesman for PANDEF, Christopher Ominimini, however, queried the viability of new states, pointing out that states should be created based on self-sustainability.
If the creation of more states became necessary, he argued it should be done equally across the board to even with the North-West, which has seven states.
Anything short of that, he noted, would be a perpetuation of the injustice in the country.
He said a situation where more states would be created to depend on the oil and gas from the Niger Delta region, while other states with mineral resources are allowed to exploit theirs is not the way to go.
He stated, “ Well, it is the right of the people to call for the creation of states. However, the most important thing is that in the last constitutional conference, it was agreed that all the geopolitical zones should have seven states each as it is in the North-West.
“So, the South -East should have additional two states so that it would be seven states. The South- West should have additional states to make it seven states.
He added, “But the question we want to ask is ‘will the states be viable?’ Do they have the means of survival if the vision of our forefathers are kept to? Because the vision of our forefathers who fought for the independence of this country is that the various states should control their resources and pay tax to the centre.”
Ex- Senators condemn move
A former Ambassador to Kuwait, Senator Haruna Garba, described the Reps proposal as “unbelievable.”
Garba, who represented Gombe North in the Senate, said, “The number is unbelievable, how can you talk about 30 more states. What are we turning ourselves into? What kind of democracy are we talking about? The number is too much. The number is unacceptable.”
He added, “Can we afford the paraphernalia of 31 more states? Where do we get the resources to take care of 67 states? What we should do is to give every zone one more each to amount to 42 more states, 67 is too much, we are not serious.”
Also, a former Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Nicholas Tofowomo, condemned the proposal of the Reps.
Tofowomo, who was in the Senate between 2019 and 2023, described the proposal of the lawmakers as useless, saying the country should focus more on the development of local government areas, rather than states creation. He added that many of the present states were not economically viable.
He said, “The viability of states in Nigeria should be a pressing concern to the lawmakers, not creation of states. Currently, many states rely heavily on federal allocations, which raise questions about their economic independence. There is the need to reform local governments, which are closest to the people, rather than creating more states.
“In Nigeria, there are 774 local governments, which are struggling to deliver basic services. The 1976 Local Government Reforms aimed to the “basket of Nigeria” due to their rich agricultural land. However, even these states face challenges in terms of infrastructure and economic development. Rather than creating more states, the focus addresses these challenges, but more needs to be done.”
“Some states, like Benue, have been dubbed should be on strengthening local governments and giving them more responsibilities, especially in agriculture.
“Ultimately, Nigeria needs to rethink its approach to governance and economic development. By empowering local governments and promoting agricultural production, the country can move towards a more sustainable and equitable future.”
Ex-Reps kick
In the same vein, a former House of Representatives member from Anambra, Barth Nnanna, kicked against the proposed additional 31 states, saying it would be unmanageable, cumbersome and chaotic to handle.
Nnanna, who represented Ogbaru Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2003, added that “even from the proposal, the South-East is shortchanged with a shortfall of four states compared to North-West and South-West.”
He said what Nigeria needed now was not additional states but a return to regional system of government with federating components making up the state.
He said, “We look at the proposal and we can say that proposing additional 31 states to join the already existing 36 states will be too unwieldy to manage. Most of the existing 36 states are not viable and can’t stand on their own with the exception of three states, every other states depend on the handout from Abuja for survival and now they are proposing additional 31 states.
“What we had expected them to do is to first balance the states of the geopolitical regions. For instance, like the South-East that has five states should be giving additional states to balance the equation.
“Even with the proposal, it means South-East will be given additional five states totalling 10 states. It means the region will be trailing North-West and South-West which may likely have 14 states each. You can see it is not balanced and there is no equity in the whole thing.
“Anyway, it is still a proposal; it will still be subjected to public scrutiny and acceptance. When it comes to that stage, the people will either accept it or reject it. But the truth is Nigeria doesn’t need additional states at the moment.”
Another former member of the House of Representatives, Ogbona Nwuke, has said Governors may not support the creation of additional states.
Nwuke, who represented Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency of Rivers State in the Green Chamber, also questioned the viability of the proposed states.
“It is very clear that state creation will not be possible without the support of the governors. And the way it stands state governors may not back state creation.
“Anyway, as we speak, not all states appear to be viable. And to talk about that number of states being created, if that is the will of the people across the country, then one will perhaps say there is nothing wrong with that. But let me note that state creation has never been handled by any civilian administration in Nigeria
“And previous attempts to create states have also not been successful. So, it will be nice to see what stakeholders will say when the issue of states creation is tabled before them.
“But looking at history, most states created in the country were by fiat by the military and none has been created by any civilian administration.
Asked if he supports the creation of more states, he added, “We have six geo-political zones and we know that in the South East has been clamouring for one additional state.
“Now, in order to achieve a level of balance, which is missing at this time, we need to know the number of states because there has to be some balancing with Nigeria’s geographical expression.
“So, it is a critical matter, very serious matter which will demand more information, additional information on how the committee came to that number of states and then how those states will be distributed when it comes to Nigeria’s geo-political spread.”
Ebonyi State is still awaiting the arrival of three aircraft Governor Nwifuru reportedly paid for about two years ago.
The governor had promised the arrival of the aircraft years back but as at the time of this report not even one aircraft has landed to start the proposed Ebonyi Air.
This is even as Enugu Air which is taking over the Nigeria Airspace has secured regulatory approval to commence direct flights between Lagos and London Gatwick in December 2026, with bookings for the international route now open.
The state-owned airline announced the development in a statement on Wednesday, describing the approval as a major milestone in its international expansion and efforts to strengthen air connectivity between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The Lagos-London Gatwick service will be operated in partnership with Omni-Blu Aviation (OBA), which has been appointed as the designated operating partner for the route.
“Enugu Air has received approval for its Lagos-London Gatwick route, with Omni-Blu Aviation (OBA) appointed as the designated operator under a strategic partnership.
“Bookings are now open, and flights will commence in December 2026,” the statement said.
For an airport that has refused to function the governor may have decided to change the narrative but for some reasons the project may have gone the way of the Vanco flyover which has become a burden to the government.
While the former governor Dave Umahi completed flyover projects in less than one year, Governor Nwifuru has failed to deliver just one in more than three years.
As Enugu Air goes to the United Kingdom, Ebonyi people are whispering the question in hushed tones for fear of the unknown; “when will the planes arrive?
Meanwhile, Enugu Air described the latest development as a significant step towards expanding its international operations, improving passenger connectivity and creating new opportunities for trade and investment between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
It also credited Governor Peter Mbah’s strategic aviation agenda, saying his administration’s vision was positioning Enugu as an emerging gateway for international connectivity, investment, tourism and economic growth.
The announcement comes barely six weeks after Enugu Air operated its maiden international flight to Douala, Cameroon, on September 23, 2026.
Launched in July 2025 with an initial fleet of three Embraer aircraft comprising the E170 and E190 series, the airline was established as part of the Mbah administration’s integrated plan to develop a modern, multimodal transport system.
The initiative is also aimed at positioning Enugu as a major aviation hub in West and Central Africa.
Since its launch, Enugu Air has expanded its fleet and route network, with the latest regulatory approval representing another step in its international expansion drive.
No wonder the Ebonyi governor took the whole time given to him at the recent APC rally in Enugu to praise the developmental magic Governor Peter Mbah is doing. The governor could not name one project he was able to deliver for his people.
News
Ogarabe Returns To Enugu As Commissioner Of Police As PSC Deploys New Commissioners To Four States
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the deployment of four new Commissioners of Police to Enugu, Plateau, Nasarawa and Ondo states.
Among the newly deployed officers is CP Fidelis Ogarabe, who has been appointed Commissioner of Police for Enugu State.
Ogarabe was formerly the Commissioner of Police in charge of the INTERPOL Annex, Lagos.
Other officers affected by the deployment include CP Sunday J. A. Okoebor, formerly Commissioner of Police, Police Accounts and Budget, Force Headquarters, who has been posted to Plateau State.
CP Sheikh Mohammed Danko, formerly Commissioner of Police, Force Intelligence Annex, Lagos, has been deployed to Nasarawa State, while CP Johnson Ayodeji Babalola, formerly of the Special Inquiry Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja, has been posted to Ondo State.
The appointments followed a series of interviews conducted by the commission to assess the officers’ fitness, competence and suitability for their new responsibilities.
The deployment was approved on Thursday at the Solomon Arase Conference Hall, Police Service Commission Headquarters, Abuja.
In a statement signed by the commission’s Head of Protocol and Public Relations, Torty Kalu, the PSC said the appointments were made in accordance with its constitutional mandate.
The Chairman of the commission, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu, said the appointments were consistent with Section 215(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for the commission’s authority in the appointment of Commissioners of Police for the states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Argungu, who was represented by a board member, Justice Paul Adamu Galumje (JSC, rtd.), said the officers had been found worthy in learning and character following the assessment.
He charged the newly deployed commissioners to discharge their responsibilities with impartiality, professionalism and a strong commitment to the expectations of their respective offices.
News
Failed Government: Nwifuru Praises Mbah’s Achievements in Enugu, Fails to Highlight Own Projects at APC Rally
The Anyichuks Campaign Office has criticised Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, for failing to showcase any significant achievements of his administration during the Southeast presidential campaign flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women’s Mobilisation held at Okpara Square, Enugu, describing his remarks as another indication of the absence of tangible accomplishments to justify his four years in office.
The campaign office expressed disappointment that while the governors of Imo and Enugu states used the opportunity to reel out projects and development initiatives executed with their respective states’ resources and federal allocations, Governor Nwifuru chose to devote his speech to praising his Enugu counterpart, Governor Peter Mbah.
According to the campaign office, the contrast was particularly striking because the event provided an opportunity for the three governors to demonstrate what their respective administrations had achieved and how they had deployed public resources to improve the lives of their people.
“But when the microphone got to Governor Nwifuru, what did Ebonyi people hear? Instead of telling the audience what he has done with the enormous resources accruing to Ebonyi State, he chose to commend Governor Peter Mbah for his achievements in Enugu State.
“Why couldn’t he tell the gathering what he has done with Ebonyi people’s money? Why was he more interested in celebrating another governor’s achievements than presenting his own scorecard to the people he was elected to serve?” the campaign office queried.
It recalled that Nwifuru, in his remarks, praised Governor Mbah for initiatives aimed at promoting unity, developing skills and introducing innovations to women, but offered no comparable account of what his administration had done to advance the welfare and economic fortunes of Ebonyi residents.
The campaign office said the governor’s decision to focus on another state’s achievements, rather than present his own administration’s record, was a missed opportunity that had further reinforced public concerns about his performance.
“It is particularly unfortunate that a governor who has spent almost four years in office could stand before an audience of political leaders and party faithful without identifying concrete achievements of his administration that ordinary Ebonyi people can relate to.
“Ebonyi people deserve more than political slogans, praise-singing and repeated appeals for votes. They deserve leadership that can point to measurable improvements in their living conditions, infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment and economic opportunities.”
The campaign office further argued that Nwifuru’s remarks were symptomatic of what it described as an administration that had failed to add sufficient value to the lives of ordinary men and women in Ebonyi State.
It said the governor’s appeal to women to support the APC and his declaration that the party had an open manifesto would mean little to citizens who, according to the campaign office, were more interested in the practical benefits of governance than political promises.
The office said the growing clamour for Anyichuks to emerge as Ebonyi State’s next governor was rooted in the people’s desire for a departure from what it described as years of disappointing leadership and unfulfilled expectations.
It maintained that Ebonyi could not afford another administration that would merely occupy the Government House without delivering meaningful improvements in the lives of its citizens.
“The growing support for Anyichuks is a reflection of the people’s hunger for a government that understands their struggles and is prepared to translate public resources into tangible benefits.
“Ebonyi people cannot continue to endure an administration that adds little or no value to the everyday lives of ordinary citizens. They want a government that will create opportunities, empower families, support businesses and ensure that the state’s resources work for the people.
“Leadership is not about praising another governor for what he has accomplished. It is about being able to stand before your own people and account for what you have done with the mandate and resources entrusted to you.”
The campaign office therefore urged Ebonyi residents to look beyond party slogans and political endorsements and begin demanding accountability, measurable performance and leadership that places the welfare of the people above political interests.
It said Anyichuks represented the aspiration for a new direction in Ebonyi State, insisting that the state deserved leadership capable of converting its resources and enormous human potential into prosperity for its people.
By Ugoo Aniagoh
From the restoration of electricity at the local government secretariat after 13 years to renewed road, water, sanitation and security initiatives, the Okakpu-led administration is setting its governance agenda in motion.
The administration of Hon. (Dr.) Ikechukwu Okakpu, popularly known as OKD Jnr, and his Deputy, Hon. Ifunanya Nwanadile, has recorded a number of developmental milestones as the duo mark their first 30 days in office as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Since assuming office on October 3, 2026, the administration has initiated interventions across critical sectors, including infrastructure, environmental sanitation, water supply, grassroots governance and community security.
One of the notable achievements recorded within the period is the restoration of electricity at the Njikoka Local Government Secretariat after 13 years without public power supply. The development marks a significant improvement in the working environment at the council headquarters and is expected to enhance administrative efficiency.
In the area of water infrastructure, rehabilitation of pipe-borne water facilities across the local government has commenced, reflecting the administration’s commitment to improving access to basic amenities.
The administration has also strengthened its governance structure through the appointment and inauguration of elected councillors, Supervisory Councillors and Special Advisers to support grassroots representation, policy implementation and effective service delivery.
Environmental sanitation has received considerable attention, with over 100 ad-hoc workers engaged to support waste management, routine cleaning and general environmental sanitation across the local government.
On infrastructure development, the administration has commenced a Public-Community-Private Partnership (PCPP) road project along the Awovu–Osili axis in Enugwu Ukwu. An assessment of Ezi Norbert Road has also been conducted as part of efforts to identify infrastructure needs and explore possible interventions.
Security has equally featured prominently in the administration’s first-month activities. Adopting a zero-tolerance stance towards insecurity, the council has mounted CCTV cameras at strategic locations to strengthen surveillance and improve security monitoring.
In a grassroots-driven security initiative, local traders and street operators have also been engaged as Community Safety Marshals. Equipped with walkie-talkies, the marshals are expected to serve as additional sources of community security intelligence, promptly reporting suspicious movements and activities to the appropriate authorities.
These initiatives represent some of the administration’s early efforts to address longstanding challenges while laying the groundwork for sustained development across Njikoka’s six communities.
Speaking through its first-month performance record, the administration maintains that its focus remains on practical governance, improved public services, environmental responsibility, infrastructure development and a safer community.
Although the administration is still in its early days, its first 30 days have provided an indication of its immediate priorities and development direction.
For residents of Njikoka, the expectation will now be to see these initial interventions translated into sustainable projects, measurable improvements and lasting impact across the local government.
Thirty days down, more work ahead. Njikoka First.
The Federal Government has released guidelines explaining how Nigerians selected for its N50,000 relief grant can confirm their eligibility, accept the offer, access the funds and withdraw the money.
The government also warned beneficiaries against fraudsters seeking to exploit the intervention by demanding money or sensitive personal information.
The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) is designed to support vulnerable households struggling with rising living costs.
The programme, managed by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, provides a one-off grant of N50,000 to selected beneficiaries through mobile wallets operated by five approved payment providers.
According to the frequently asked questions published on the programme’s website and sighted by PUNCH Online on Thursday, the grant is not a loan, requires no repayment and can be accessed without a smartphone or internet connection.
Here are the key things Nigerians need to know about the programme.
1. Who qualifies for the N50,000 grant?
The government said beneficiaries were selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
It explained that individuals cannot apply directly or pay anyone to secure a place on the beneficiary list.
Selection is based on need, with beneficiaries drawn from the six geopolitical zones, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
The government also clarified that payments would be made in phases, meaning not everyone would receive a notification at the same time.
2. How can you check if you are eligible?
Selected beneficiaries will receive SMS notifications from one of the five approved payment providers: ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
The messages will confirm their selection and provide a USSD code to dial to accept the grant.
Beneficiaries can also dial their assigned provider’s USSD code and select the eligibility-check option to confirm their status.
Those who are not selected will receive a notification informing them that they are currently not eligible for the relief support.
3. How do beneficiaries claim the N50,000?
Recipients are required to dial the USSD code contained in the notification from their payment provider and follow the instructions.
The process activates a mobile wallet, after which the N50,000 is credited and a confirmation SMS is sent.
The government stressed that receiving a selection message does not automatically mean the money has been paid. Beneficiaries must first accept the offer.
Those who mistakenly reject the offer can dial the code again and select the acceptance option.
4. Can people without smartphones receive the grant?
Yes. The government said beneficiaries do not need smartphones or internet access to receive the money.
A basic mobile phone is sufficient because the USSD codes work without an internet connection.
However, customers of OPay, Moniepoint and MoMo PSB can also use their providers’ official mobile applications to access their wallets and carry out transactions.
5. How can beneficiaries withdraw the money?
Beneficiaries can withdraw their funds through Point of Sale agents by transferring money from their mobile wallets and collecting cash.
Each approved payment provider also offers alternative withdrawal and transfer options.
The available USSD codes include:
- ALAT: Dial 94523Account NumberAmount# to transfer funds.
- MoMo PSB: Dial 6710# or use the MoMo NG application.
- NairaGram: Dial 72600#.
- OPay: Dial 95520# or use the OPay application.
- Moniepoint: Dial 557327# or use the Moniepoint application.
Beneficiaries can withdraw the entire N50,000 or take only part of it, leaving the balance in their wallets.
They can also transfer the money to personal bank accounts or other beneficiaries through the available channels.
6. Are there charges for receiving the grant?
The government said accepting the grant, receiving the money and responding to programme SMS notifications are free.
However, POS operators may charge their usual withdrawal fees when beneficiaries collect cash.
Recipients are therefore advised to confirm the applicable charges before completing transactions.
7. What if you have not received an SMS?
The government explained that payments were being made in phases, with payment providers contacting beneficiaries in batches.
Therefore, not receiving an SMS does not necessarily mean an individual has been permanently excluded.
Interested persons can check their eligibility through their assigned provider’s USSD code.
The government, however, warned that nobody could add an individual to the beneficiary list or accelerate payment in exchange for money.
8. How can beneficiaries avoid fraud?
The government warned Nigerians against individuals claiming they could help them secure or release the N50,000 grant for a fee.
It stressed that programme officials and payment providers would never request beneficiaries’ PINs, one-time passwords or Bank Verification Numbers.
Genuine messages will come only from the official sender names of the five approved payment providers and will not contain links.
Beneficiaries were also advised against clicking unfamiliar links, downloading unknown applications or forwarding WhatsApp messages claiming that sharing them would guarantee access to the grant.
The government further warned recipients not to refund money to anyone claiming that the payment was made in error. Such claims should first be verified through the provider’s official customer service channels.
9. What happens if you lose your phone or SIM card?
Beneficiaries who lose their phones or SIM cards should immediately contact their payment providers to secure their wallets.
They should also obtain replacement SIM cards bearing the same phone numbers from their network operators.
The government assured beneficiaries that their money would remain in their mobile wallets even if they lost their phones or SIM cards.
10. What should beneficiaries do if their USSD codes stop working?
The programme advised beneficiaries to check their network signals and retry if their USSD codes fail.
If the problem persists, they should contact their payment providers through their official customer service channels.
The following helplines were provided:
- 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 or 0201 888 8328
- NERSI programme: 0700-022-2222
Enquiries concerning mobile wallets and payments should be directed to the respective providers, while questions about the intervention can be addressed to the programme’s helpline.
11. Which organisations are authorised to disburse the grant?
The Federal Government identified five approved payment providers for the N50,000 intervention.
They are ALAT, the digital banking platform of Wema Bank; MoMo PSB, a licensed Payment Service Bank; NairaGram, a digital money transfer service; OPay, a licensed mobile money operator; and Moniepoint, a licensed microfinance bank.
Beneficiaries were advised to deal only with their assigned providers and use official channels for enquiries and transactions.
The government reiterated that beneficiaries do not need to pay anyone, click external links or download unfamiliar applications to access the grant.
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