The Federal Government has announced that it will begin the disbursement of interest-free loans to smallholder farmers and business owners across Nigeria before the end of 2025.
The National Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Hamza Ibrahim Baba, disclosed this on Friday during an engagement with traders’ associations and other stakeholders in Kaduna State’s informal business sector.
According to Baba, the loans of up to N100,000 per beneficiary are part of the FarmerMoni scheme under GEEP, designed to support small-scale farmers in poultry, aquaculture, livestock rearing, and crop production. He explained that the initiative is meant to boost the capacity of farmers and help them access critical resources.
“This pilot phase will support farmers nationwide, small-scale business owners including Kaduna State,” he said.
“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 noted that the programme is domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and remains a flagship initiative of the National Social Investment Programme.
He stressed that GEEP is designed to provide collateral-free, interest-free loans to micro-enterprises, petty traders, artisans, youth entrepreneurs, and farmers. The aim, he said, is to help scale up their businesses while ensuring financial inclusion for citizens at the grassroots.
He further explained that GEEP operates through three major schemes: TraderMoni, which targets youths between 18 and 45 years old engaged in petty trades; MarketMoni, which focuses on women in small-scale trading; and FarmerMoni, which is directed at 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,” Baba said.
The programme manager added that 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 traders’ associations and cooperatives to cooperate with GEEP Desk Officers and field enumerators in Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to guarantee that the loans reach the right beneficiaries.
“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 stated.
Baba also assured stakeholders that the Tinubu administration is committed to expanding the reach of GEEP schemes, adding that the pilot phase for farmers would serve as the foundation for a broader rollout in 2026.
He acknowledged the role played by past administrations and ministers in the development of GEEP since its inception in 2016, while also highlighting ongoing reforms to improve delivery and accountability.
He explained that GEEP works alongside other components of the National Social Investment Programme, such as the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer, and Grants for Vulnerable Groups. “These are all aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihoods across Nigeria,” he said.
In an interview, a beneficiary, Hauwa Musa, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, noting that the support had improved her life and enabled her to expand her business.
Another stakeholder, Mallam Umar Usman, said he had not yet benefited from the programme but was hopeful of being included in the upcoming GEEP 3.0 phase. He described the loans as a welcome development that would make a difference for farmers and business owners.
Market leaders and traders’ representatives also commended the initiative, pledging to collaborate with GEEP Desk Officers to ensure that the loans are fairly distributed and reach only those in genuine need.
They highlighted that transparent implementation would strengthen the programme and support more Nigerians to grow their businesses.