The Federal Government has announced plans to begin disbursing interest-free loans to smallholder farmers and micro-business owners across Nigeria before the end of 2025.
The initiative, part of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was disclosed in Kaduna during an engagement with traders’ associations and stakeholders in the informal business sector.
According to the programme manager, the loans of up to ₦100,000 per beneficiary will be offered under FarmerMoni, a scheme designed to support small-scale farmers engaged in poultry, aquaculture, livestock rearing, and crop production. Beneficiaries will also enjoy a six-month grace period before repayment begins, allowing them to acquire critical inputs such as fertilisers, veterinary drugs, and farm tools.
The programme forms part of the broader National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), which also includes TraderMoni for petty traders and youth entrepreneurs, and MarketMoni targeting women in small-scale trading. All loans are collateral-free and interest-free, structured to promote financial inclusion for Nigerians at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
“These are not grants but repayable loans, designed to help Nigerians grow their businesses, join the formal financial system, and create jobs,” the programme manager explained. He added that loan amounts would range from ₦5,000 to ₦100,000 depending on the scheme, with monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in place to ensure sustainability.
Traders’ associations and cooperatives across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas are expected to work closely with GEEP desk officers and field enumerators to ensure only deserving beneficiaries are selected. The government stressed the need for transparency and proper targeting to prevent abuse of the programme.
The scheme, which first launched in 2016, has undergone reforms to improve accountability and delivery. Officials said the 2025 pilot intervention for farmers will set the stage for a broader rollout in 2026.
Market leaders and stakeholders welcomed the announcement, commending the government’s commitment to supporting small businesses with interest-free financing. Some beneficiaries described the programme as life-changing, while others expressed optimism about being included in the upcoming phase.
The government reaffirmed that GEEP would continue working alongside other social investment initiatives, such as the Conditional Cash Transfer, Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, and Grants for Vulnerable Groups, all aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihoods nationwide.
