The Ministry of Budget and National Planning has warned the public to disregard a Facebook message purportedly posted by the Minister, Sen. Udoma Udo-Udoma to apply for N5 billion Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) loans.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Mr Charles Dafe, the Director of Information in the ministry.

The statement said the attention of the ministry had been drawn to the message calling on individuals and corporate organisations to apply for N5 billion Small and Medium Scale Business (SMEs) loans.

The Facebook message reads: “ The Federal Government has made available the Sum of N5 billion intervention loan for SMEs.

“The loan facility is interest free and is payable within a period of two years. “Interested applicants should reply through or contact the ministry,’’it said.

The statement, however, warned that “it is a clear 419 message from criminal scammers who are dubiously defrauding unsuspecting publics.’’

It said that the minister did not have an active Facebook account.

“ Nigerians are advised that government has formal communication channels it utilises to appropriately communicate to the public for policies requiring mass public participation.

“ Such announcements are aired on television and radio stations as well as published on national dailies.

“Government is intensifying effort to arrest and deal decisively with these fraudsters who are blinded to the fact that the present administration has zero tolerance for such characters.

“The public are hereby advised to disregard such message and be wary of the activities of 419 scammers,’’ it added