The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has officially reopened applications for the Lagos CARES Operations Grant, giving small businesses in Lagos another opportunity to receive financial support for their daily business operations.
The grant is designed to help nano, micro, and small businesses reduce the burden of operational expenses affecting their growth and survival. Unlike loans, beneficiaries are not expected to repay the money received under the programme.
The Lagos CARES initiative is part of a broader support programme aimed at helping businesses recover from economic challenges while sustaining jobs and business activities across Lagos State.
About the Lagos CARES Operations Grant
The Lagos CARES Operations Grant supports businesses with funding that can cover up to 50 percent of their yearly operating costs.
LSETF stated that the grant can be used for:
- Staff salaries
- Shop or office rent
- Utility bills
- Equipment and asset repairs
- Other essential running costs
The amount applicants can receive depends on the size of their business.
Businesses with 1–2 staff, classified as nano enterprises, can receive up to ₦50,000.
Micro enterprises with 3–9 staff may receive up to ₦500,000, while small businesses with 10 or more staff can access up to ₦1 million.
Eligibility Requirements
LSETF explained that applicants must meet certain conditions before applying for the Operations Grant.
Eligible applicants include:
- Businesses operating within Lagos State
- Applicants who have never received the Lagos CARES Operations Grant before
- Businesses that previously received only Credit Grant or IT Grant but not the Operations Grant
- Active businesses with valid operational records
Businesses that already benefited from the Operations Grant in previous application rounds are not eligible to reapply.
For micro enterprises, applicants are generally expected to have at least three staff members, while SMEs should have a minimum of 10 staff.
Documents Required for Application
Applicants are expected to prepare and upload several documents during the application process.
These include:
- BVN
- LASRRA card
- Valid means of identification
- Business registration documents where applicable
- Proof of business operation
- Tax payment evidence
- Bank account details
- Passport photograph
- Proof of Lagos residency or business address
- Applicants phone numbers and email addresses must be active because LSETF may contact them during screening and verification
- LSETF may carry out physical verification of businesses after application submission.
This means applicants should ensure their business location is correct and operational because verification teams may visit the business address provided during registration.
Incorrect information or inability to verify the business may affect approval chances.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can apply through the official LSETF application portal apply.lsetf.ng.
Applicants are required to:
- Visit the portal
- Select either New/First-Time Applicant or Existing Applicant
- Create an account
- Fill in personal and business details
- Upload required documents
- Submit the application for review
