The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, has inaugurated the Enugu State Local Government Areas Desk Officers for the Government Enterprises and Empowerment Programmes, (GEEP) in Enugu.
Speaking during the inauguration on Friday GEEP National Programme Manager, Mr Hamza Baba, said the officers would assist in registering Enugu farmers to enable them benefit from the FarmerMoni intervention.
Baba explained that the FarmerMoni was designed to support small scale farmers nationwide with interest and collateral free loans of up to N300,000 to support their agricultural activities.
He said this was a clear demonstration of the federal government unwavering commitment to empowering smallholder farmers, strengthening rural livelihoods, and improving food security under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President.
“GEEP remains one of the Federal Government’s flagship interventions aimed at promoting financial inclusion, supporting grassroots enterprises, and improving the socio-economic wellbeing of Nigerians.
“FarmerMoni, a major component of GEEP, specifically focuses on providing interest-free financial support to smallholder farmers to enable them to expand production, improve productivity, and contribute meaningfully to national food security.
“Enugu State occupies a strategic position within Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.
“In fact, the state has repositioned agriculture from subsistence farming into a modern agribusiness and wealth-creation sector capable of driving economic growth, employment, industrialisation, and rural development, ” he said.
According to Baba, between 2024 and 2026, Enugu State has recorded remarkable progress across crop production, value chain development, livestock modernisation, mechanisation, agro-processing, and agricultural infrastructure development.
He said this had positioned the state as an emerging agricultural and livestock hub in the South-East.
While reiterating that the credit facility is loan and not grant, the GEEP boss said the repayment of the loan would start between six and nine months.
He urged the desk officers to register genuine farmers.
He further warned those with the intention not to pay back the agricultural loan not to apply as the government would deduct through their various banks.
Speaking, the state Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication, Prof. Benedette Okoli, said the intervention was in line with Gov. Peter Mbah’s commitment to inclusive growth and poverty eradication.
“When our farmers have access to timely and affordable financing, our fields become more productive; our markets more vibrant; and our people better nourished and poverty is eliminated.
“This is not just another loan scheme; it is a deliberate, targeted empowerment instrument that delivers interest-free and collateral-free loans of up to N300,000 directly to real farmers.
“These funds will enable them to procure high-quality seeds, fertilisers, modern equipment and other essential inputs needed to boost productivity, scale operations, reduce post-harvest losses and increase household incomes,” Okoli said.
She charged the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously to improve their agricultural outputs.
Speaking on behalf of other farmers, the Chairman of the All-Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Emmanuel Eneh, applauded President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to assisting farmers through the provision of seedlings and financial facilities.
Eneh gave the assurance that the association would ensure that those getting the assistance were genuine farmers in the state.
He expressed optimism that the gesture would make huge difference to the farmers.
