Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned Nigerians about a fraudulent scheme that falsely claims to offer N65,000 grants through a supposed empowerment program.
The scam, which is circulating on social media, is being promoted by a group named “Travelling Abroad Opportunities.”
In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku categorically denied any involvement with the program.
He said the group had been advertising a link that leads to a fraudulent page offering the so-called “Atiku Grant by FG.”
“This is a scam designed to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians into giving away their personal details and money,” Atiku said.
The scam involves a link where applicants are asked to fill out forms with their name, account number, and bank details, promising them a N65,000 grant if they qualify.
The former Vice President explained that he is not behind the scheme in any way and urged Nigerians to avoid participating in it.
“Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (2023), is not running any empowerment scheme that offers N65,000 to applicants,” the statement emphasized.
Atiku’s statement further clarified that there is no organization, entity, or individual associated with him running such a program.
The former VP made it clear that if he were to run any empowerment initiative, it would be done transparently, not through a third-party organization.
For clarity, he added, “Even if Atiku Abubakar was to embark on such a scheme, he would do so directly and not through an unknown third party.”
The fraudulent program, which promotes itself under the name of “Atiku Grant by FG,” has been luring people by making false promises of financial assistance.
The announcement has already gained attention on social media, especially among Nigerians seeking government assistance programs.
The link provided by the scammers directs people to a website that seems official at first glance but is actually a ploy to collect personal information.
Many unsuspecting Nigerians have already filled out the application forms, believing they were part of a legitimate government-backed program.
Atiku’s warning is a critical reminder about the dangers of internet scams, which have become a growing problem in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
While many Nigerians are familiar with scams involving fake job offers, lottery wins, and fake investment schemes, the “Atiku Grant by FG” has taken a new approach by using the former Vice President’s name to build credibility.
Atiku has now called on Nigerian security agencies to investigate the promoters of the scam.
“I urge the relevant authorities to take swift action against those behind this criminal scheme,” he said.
He also stressed that such schemes not only harm individuals financially but also undermine trust in legitimate empowerment programs aimed at helping the poor and vulnerable.
Atiku’s public disavowal of the scam follows a pattern of similar frauds targeting Nigerian citizens by exploiting the names of prominent public figures.
In the past, other high-profile individuals, including politicians and celebrities, have also had their names misused for fraudulent purposes.
Atiku’s spokesperson further emphasized that the former Vice President has always been an advocate for transparency and integrity in governance.
“He has always worked directly with reputable organizations and government agencies to ensure that any program he supports is genuine and beneficial to the people,” the statement read.
Atiku’s disavowal comes at a time when Nigerians are increasingly wary of online fraud, which has reached alarming levels in recent years.
The Nigerian government has made efforts to crack down on online fraud, but many people continue to fall victim to scammers due to the growing sophistication of their tactics.
In response, Atiku has called on all Nigerians to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to such scams.
“I urge all Nigerians to be cautious and not fall for offers that seem too good to be true. Protect your personal information and report any fraudulent activities to the authorities,” he advised.
