Large crowds of Nigerians have overwhelmed commercial banks, including Keystone, Fidelity, and Stanbic IBTC, to register for a supposed N70,000 monthly “Tinubu Empowerment Fund” linked to a scheme called NEYDEEP. Viral messages have urged citizens to register using their Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identification Number (NIN), and passport photographs, claiming the payment is for farmers.
A message circulating reads: “Go to the bank and tell them you want to register for NEYDEEP (Tinubu Empowerment Fund). Go with your NIN, BVN, and passport. The payment is ₦70,000 monthly.” A viral TikTok video showed dozens of people crowding a bank, filling out forms, with some bank officials appearing overwhelmed.
In Ilorin, Kwara State, a registrant reported being charged N2,000 for “account activation and debit card processing.” Another person in Lagos said many believed the scheme was endorsed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, prompting them to register after seeing social media posts. However, bank officials provided little explanation, instructing registrants to await further instructions after opening accounts.
Some netizens claim the NEYDEEP scheme began in January, with alleged payments received in March. The authenticity of the scheme remains unverified, as attempts to contact the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were unsuccessful.
