A copy of such a message obtained by SaharaReporters reads: “Good afternoon House, act fast on this massage. Go to the bank and tell them that you want to register for NEYDEEP (Tinubu Empowerment Fund).

A large number of Nigerians have besieged several commercial banks across the country to register for what is being circulated as a new N70,000 monthly “Tinubu Empowerment Fund,” believed to be part of a scheme dubbed NEYDEEP.

SaharaReporters have observed crowds at branches of Keystone, Fidelity, and Stanbic IBTC banks in recent days, following viral messages directing citizens to register with their Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identification Number (NIN), and passport photographs.

A copy of such a message obtained by SaharaReporters reads: “Good afternoon House, act fast on this massage. Go to the bank and tell them that you want to register for NEYDEEP (Tinubu Empowerment Fund).

“Go with your NIN, BVN and passport. You can register in any of these banks below: Keystone, Fidelity and Stanbic IBTC. The payment is ₦70,000 monthly.

“If they ask you for occupation, put farming (poultry farming etc).”

In a viral TikTok video seen by SaharaReporters, dozens of Nigerians were filmed crowding a banking hall, clutching forms and queueing for the so-called registration, while some bank officials appeared overwhelmed by the

One of the registrants in Ilorin, Kwara State, told SaharaReporters that they were asked to pay N2,000 for “account activation and debit card processing.”

“It was that message my uncle sent to me, and I also went to Keystone Bank in Ilorin to do it,” the Ilorin resident said.

“They created an account and asked us to pay N2,000. We asked why, and they said it was for a debit card and the balance would be used for account activation. I did it on Friday. We are hoping to receive the alert of N70,000 this month ending.”

Another person, who claimed to have registered in Lagos, said many residents rushed to the bank because they believed President Bola Tinubu’s administration endorsed the programme.

“People are saying it’s Tinubu’s empowerment for farmers. I saw the video on TikTok and WhatsApp groups, so I went to confirm. When I got there, many people were already filling out forms. The bank people didn’t explain much; they just said we should wait for further instructions after opening an account,” the resident said.