A Nigerian lady has sparked reactions online after revealing how money suddenly started disappearing from her bank account years after receiving a COVID-19 intervention fund she believed was free.
The woman, identified as Maria-Goretti Jiwuaku, shared her experience on Facebook, explaining that she collected ₦250,000 during the pandemic under a government-backed empowerment programme.
According to her, she was made to understand at the time that the money was a form of financial support — not a loan that required repayment.
Her confusion, however, turned into shock years later.
She revealed that about three years after receiving the funds, ₦110,000 was unexpectedly deducted from the same account she used to collect the money. Thinking that was the end of it, she stopped using the account entirely.
But things took another turn recently.
Maria said she began receiving fresh debit alerts — this time from other bank accounts linked to her name, leaving her even more worried.
Expressing her frustration, she wrote:
“Omo, if you see anywhere they are sharing free money in Nigeria, no involve me oh.
They said it was a dash.
Three years later, they removed ₦110k from the account I used. I stopped using it.
Now I’m seeing new debits from different accounts… my eyes first blur.
Please how do I even check what I’m still owing? Does it have interest? God abeg.”
Her story has triggered mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians sharing similar concerns about intervention loans and hidden repayment terms.
While some sympathized with her situation, others advised people to always confirm whether such funds are grants or loans before accepting them.
The incident has also raised fresh concerns about transparency in government intervention programmes and how beneficiaries are informed about repayment conditions.
