The Federal Government has clarified that the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) 3.0 FarmerMoni is a repayable loan scheme and not a grant, reiterating its commitment to strengthening agricultural productivity and financial inclusion among smallholder farmers.
The disclosure was made on behalf of the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Assoc. Prof. Badamasi Lawal, by the National Programme Manager of GEEP, Hon. Hamza Baba, during the Renewed Hope GEEP 3.0 Dry and Wet Season FarmerMoni media and sensitisation programme for the North-West Zone held in Jigawa State.
The engagement convened government officials, traditional and community leaders, implementation partners, members of the media, and FarmerMoni beneficiaries, with a focus on reinforcing the operational framework of the scheme and clarifying its financial structure.
Speaking at the event, Lawal described FarmerMoni as a critical component of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to enable smallholder farmers expand production capacity, improve productivity, and contribute to national food security outcomes. He noted that the sensitisation exercise was targeted at registered and revalidated beneficiaries to ensure proper understanding of fund utilisation, accountability standards, and repayment expectations.
“The sensitisation targeted registered and revalidated FarmerMoni beneficiaries and provided clear guidance on appropriate fund utilisation, accountability and the importance of repayment to sustain the revolving fund,” he said.
He emphasised that the scheme operates strictly as a recoverable credit facility, stating unequivocally that it should not be misconstrued as a grant. According to him, beneficiaries are required to channel the funds directly into agricultural activities such as crop production, livestock, or poultry, while adhering to agreed repayment terms.
“The programme provides a flexible moratorium and repayment structure aligned to farming cycles,” he stated.
Nigeria Startup News reports that under the structure, beneficiaries are granted a moratorium period ranging from six to nine months depending on the agricultural activity, allowing for cultivation and harvest cycles. Repayment timelines are set at three months for short-cycle commodities and up to six months for longer-cycle agricultural investments.
Lawal further disclosed that NSIPA will deploy its GEEP Dashboard alongside a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to track utilisation, ensure transparency, and provide technical guidance where necessary.
The programme also drew from existing models within Jigawa State, particularly the goat empowerment scheme, which adopts an asset-based approach combining livestock distribution with cooperative systems, veterinary services, training, and market linkages. NSIPA indicated plans to integrate similar elements into FarmerMoni to enhance impact, including bundling loans with inputs or productive assets and strengthening group accountability mechanisms.
“This programme is not a handout. It is a structured financial support system designed to grow your agricultural enterprise,” Lawal stated, adding that responsible utilisation would yield both individual economic benefits and broader national food security gains.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties in Jigawa State reaffirmed the state government’s alignment with the Federal Government’s initiative. He highlighted ongoing investments by Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi in irrigation, mechanisation, and access to high-quality inputs, noting that such interventions create an enabling environment for credit schemes like FarmerMoni to deliver measurable outcomes.
The Commissioner reiterated that FarmerMoni remains a repayable loan programme with up to ₦300,000 per farmer and urged beneficiaries to adopt modern agricultural practices, utilise funds judiciously, and meet repayment obligations.
Both NSIPA and Jigawa State authorities called on beneficiaries to strictly apply funds to designated agricultural purposes, comply with moratorium and repayment schedules, engage extension services, and cooperate with monitoring processes to ensure the sustainability of the programme.
