In a bold move to tackle food insecurity and rural poverty, the Federal Government has rolled out N300,000 interest-free loans to over 22,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria. The initiative, launched in Abuja under the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP), targets vulnerable farmers in all 774 local government areas.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, explained that the scheme is designed specifically for subsistence-level farmers. “These loans are interest-free and collateral-free,” he said. “We are targeting the vulnerable, poor farmers at the grassroots, not the large-scale farmers.”
Eligible applicants must be Nigerian citizens aged 18 and above, already engaged in farming, and must have a functional bank account, BVN, NIN, and membership in a registered farming cooperative or association.
The programme is part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on expanding opportunities, restoring dignity, and ensuring no Nigerian is left behind. Doro added, “Through GEEP, small businesses, artisans, and traders can access financial support to grow, create jobs, and contribute to national prosperity.”
NSIPA CEO, Badamasi Lawal, noted that women would form the majority of beneficiaries, emphasizing the gender-sensitive nature of the initiative. “Women represent 70% of our agro-workforce, and fostering them with investments is a huge resource for the country,” he said.
With this programme, the government aims to bring smallholder farmers into the economic mainstream, strengthen the agro-economy, and ensure inclusive growth for rural communities.
