FG to begin disbursement of interest-free loans to small businesses, farmers – GEEP Coordinator
By Hussaina Yakubu
August 15, 2025
The Federal Government will doon commence disbursement of interest-free loans to smallholder farmers,businesses across the country before the end of 2025, the National Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Hamza Ibrahim Baba, has said.
Baba made this known on Friday in Kaduna during an engagement with representatives of the Traders Association and other stakeholders in the state’s informal business sector.
He said the loans, up to N100,000 per beneficiary, are part of the FarmerMoni scheme under GEEP and are aimed at supporting small-scale farmers involved in poultry, aquaculture, livestock rearing, and crop production.
“This pilot phase will support farmers nationwide, small scales business owners including Kaduna State.
Beneficiaries will enjoy a six-month moratorium to enable them to produce before beginning repayment. The funds will help them acquire inputs such as fertilisers, livestock, veterinary drugs, and other critical tools,” Baba said.
The programme, domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, is one of the flagship initiatives under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).
According to Baba, GEEP provides collateral-free, interest-free loans to micro-enterprises, petty traders, artisans, youth entrepreneurs, and farmers to help scale up their businesses and ensure financial inclusion.
He explained that GEEP operates three schemes: TraderMoni, targeting youths aged 18 to 45 involved in petty trades; MarketMoni, focused on women in small-scale trading; and FarmerMoni, for rural farmers.
“These are not grants. They are loans but interest-free. The goal is to help Nigerians at the bottom of the pyramid improve their businesses, become part of the formal financial system, and eventually create jobs,” he said.
Baba said the loans range from N5,000 to N100,000, depending on the scheme, and are structured to promote sustainability through monitoring and evaluation.
He urged trader associations and cooperatives to work closely with GEEP Desk Officers and field enumerators across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to ensure that only deserving beneficiaries are selected.
“The success of this programme depends on transparency and proper targeting. We want to reach those who truly need support, not those looking to take advantage of the system,” he added.
Baba assured that the Tinubu administration is committed to expanding the reach of all GEEP schemes, stressing that the pilot farmer intervention would lay the foundation for broader rollout in 2026.
He acknowledged the contributions of previous administrations and ministers to GEEP’s development since its inception in 2016 and noted ongoing reforms aimed at improving delivery and accountability.
GEEP also works in synergy with other NSIP components, including the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer, and Grants for Vulnerable Groups, all aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihoods across Nigeria.
In an interview, one of the beneficiaries, Hauwa Musa, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the gesture, stating that the support has significantly impacted her life and helped expand her business.
Another respondent, Mallam Umar Usman, said he had not benefited from the programme yet but expressed hope of being included in the upcoming GEEP 3.0 phase, whose disbursement is expected to commence soon
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports, the market leaders and stakeholders also commended the Federal Government for supporting business owners with interest-free loans.
They assured that they would work closely with the GEEP Desk Officers to ensure fair distribution and that the support reaches those who genuinely need it.(NAN)