The Niger State Government, in collaboration with the National Social Investment Programme Agency, is targeting 600 farmers for ₦300,000 interest-free loans each. The loans fall under the Federal Government’s Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme. The National Programme Manager of GEEP, Hamza Baba, disclosed this in Minna on Saturday.
GEEP was launched in 2016 as part of the federal government’s social investment programme. It includes FarmerMoni, MarketMoni and TraderMoni. The schemes provide micro-credit to small businesses and farmers. FarmerMoni targets smallholder farmers. Previous disbursements faced criticism over politicisation and poor repayment. The current exercise uses digital verification to reduce fraud. The loans are interest-free and collateral-free.
The flag-off included training for GEEP desk officers from all 25 local government areas. Baba said the loans are designed to help small-scale farmers buy inputs, improve productivity and increase output. The desk officers will identify, register and verify eligible farmers. The verification includes digital capture of photographs, biometrics, National Identification Numbers and farm locations.
Each beneficiary will receive ₦300,000. Repayment is due within one year. Repayment begins six months after farming activities start. The agency will monitor utilisation and repayment with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, the Agricultural Development Programme and local government desk officers.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Ibrahim Inga, described the initiative as complementary to the state’s poverty reduction programmes. Hauwa Mohammed, the Special Adviser on Social Investment Programme, said desk officers had been provided with tablets to capture farmers and farmlands. She said the digital process would prevent fictitious beneficiaries.
Winners: Smallholder farmers, who gain interest-free capital. GEEP desk officers, who gain training and tools. The Niger State Government, which gains federal support. AFAN and ADP, which gain roles. Losers: Farmers not selected. Farmers without NIN or verifiable farm locations. Previous beneficiaries who defaulted. Taxpayers, if repayment rates are poor. The programme, if politicised.
Bottom Line: ₦300,000 at zero interest is real support. The digital verification is an improvement. The test is repayment. If farmers repay, the programme can scale. If they default, it becomes another grant.