The Benue State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Michael Oglegba, has revealed that over 4,000 small business owners have received ₦150,000 each under the Alia Cares Scheme to help expand their businesses.
Speaking during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Makurdi, Oglegba explained that the initiative, funded by the state government with support from the World Bank, aims to stimulate economic growth across the state.
“So far, we have given more than 4,000 people a grant of ₦150,000 to inject into their small businesses and make a profit to expand,” he said. “This has been done across the state, and we are still receiving more requests.”
In addition to supporting small businesses, the scheme also targets larger enterprises. According to Oglegba, bigger businesses, such as salons, have benefited from grants of ₦500,000 each to enable them to grow and scale up their operations.
The commissioner emphasized that the agricultural sector is also a major focus of the scheme. Through the Fadama initiative, farmers receive direct interventions such as fertilisers, cassava stems, piglets for breeding, day-old chicks for poultry farming, and cassava processing machines.
“Those interested in piggery can get a female and male piglet to breed. Poultry farmers receive day-old chicks, and cassava farmers get cassava stems and processing machines,” Oglegba noted.
He added that these agricultural interventions are fully funded through combined contributions from the state government and the World Bank.
The Alia Cares Scheme also includes direct cash transfers to support the most vulnerable members of society. Oglegba said the programme identifies and provides monthly stipends of ₦10,000 to elderly citizens and the poorest of the poor, based on criteria set by the state’s social register.
“This programme runs for nine months to a year before we start with another set of beneficiaries, ensuring that support reaches as many vulnerable people as possible,” he explained.
Additionally, the scheme offers temporary employment opportunities for unemployed individuals, providing stipends in exchange for menial jobs to justify the payments.
Another key component of the Alia Cares Scheme involves direct support for community projects. Oglegba stated that communities are allowed to choose critical projects such as boreholes, schools, or primary healthcare centres, while the government provides the necessary funding.
“The community selects its contractors and project teams, and the government funds the project to completion,” he said. “So far, 54 community projects have been completed successfully from January to date across the state.”
Oglegba concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving livelihoods through targeted interventions that strengthen both individual businesses and entire communities.
