Commercial banks across Nigeria have recently witnessed an influx of people attempting to register for a supposed ₦70,000 monthly “Tinubu Empowerment Fund,” reportedly linked to a scheme referred to as NEYDEEP.
Crowds have been observed at various bank branches, including Keystone, Fidelity, and Stanbic IBTC, following viral messages instructing citizens to visit banks with their Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identification Number (NIN), and passport photographs to qualify for the alleged programme.
A message circulating widely on social media and obtained by SaharaReporters reads:
“Good afternoon House, act fast on this message. Go to the bank and tell them you want to register for NEYDEEP (Tinubu Empowerment Fund).
Go with your NIN, BVN, and passport. You can register in any of these banks: Keystone, Fidelity, or Stanbic IBTC. The payment is ₦70,000 monthly.
If they ask for your occupation, write ‘farming (poultry farming, etc.)’.”
In a TikTok video that has since gone viral, dozens of Nigerians were seen crowding inside a bank hall, clutching registration forms while staff struggled to manage the overwhelming turnout.
A resident of Ilorin, Kwara State, told SaharaReporters that participants were asked to pay ₦2,000 for “account activation and debit card processing.”
“My uncle sent me the message, so I went to Keystone Bank in Ilorin. They opened an account for me and asked for ₦2,000. When we asked why, they said it was for a debit card and activation. I registered on Friday and am hoping to receive the ₦70,000 alert by month-end,” the resident explained.
Another individual in Lagos said that many people joined the queue believing that the programme was officially supported by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“Everyone said it was Tinubu’s empowerment for farmers. I saw the video on TikTok and WhatsApp, so I went to confirm. When I got to the bank, the crowd was massive. The staff didn’t say much; they only told us to wait for further instructions after opening an account,” the Lagos resident said.
Despite the widespread attention, SaharaReporters noted that NEYDEEP is not a new initiative. Several internet users claimed that the scheme began in January, and some even alleged to have received payments as early as March.
Attempts by SaharaReporters to contact the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for verification were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to the spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were not returned at the time of this report.
