The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, says it has targeted 4,657 persons for interest free loans under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP 0.2) in Delta.
Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said this at the launch of the disbursement of the Grant for Vulnerable Groups Programme (GVG) and to roll-out of GEEP for the beneficiaries in Asaba on Wednesday.
She said that under the first phase of GEEP 2.0, a total of 33,838 potential beneficiaries were registered across the 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, adding that out of the number, 11,991 were verified and 4,754 were enumerated.
”The total number of 4,657 beneficiaries was finally selected to receive disbursement.
”The selected beneficiaries have undergone enumeration and today we have come to roll-out the programme in the state.
”Hence, successful beneficiaries of the GEEP proagramme will start receiving credit alert from Access Bank from today by God’s grace,” she said.
The minister said that GEEP was a programme designed for vulnerable and low-income Nigerians, who were involved in productive activities, but had no access to loans.
Farouq said that the programme gave priority to the most vulnerable in the society, including widows, youths, persons with disability and the internally displaced.
”The programne has three signature schemes: TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni.
”The TraderMoni loan of N50,000 targets under-privileged and marginalised youths in Nigeria aged between 18 and 40 years.
”The MarketMoni is also a loan of N50,000 given to under privileged and marginalised women in the society with a special focus on female-headed households.
”Finally, the FarmerMoni is a loan package that provides inputs worth up to N300, 000 to rural farmers,” she said.
The minister also said that 3000 beneficiaries across the 25 LGAs of the state have been selected to benefit from the GVG programme.
She said that the GVG programme was designed to provide a one-off cash grant of N20,000 to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians in rural and semi-urban areas across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
”Our target in Delta is to disburse the grant to about 3,000 beneficiaries across the 25 LGAs of the state.
”It is worthy to note that 70 per cent of these beneficiaries must be women, while the remaining 30 per cent is for youths.
”Mr President has further directed that, at least 15 per cent of the total number of beneficiaries must specifically be allocated to citizens with special needs, including Persons with Disability (PWDs), internally displaced persons and senior citizens in the state,” she said.
The minister said that the two programmes were part of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), which was the flagship social protection programme of President Buhari’s Administration targeting the poor and vulnerable in the country.
Farouq condoled with the state government and the people of Delta over the recent flood that claimed lives and property.
She commented the state government for providing support to the flood victims.
”Given the magnitude of the devastation in the state and most part of the country at large, l wish to inform you that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of 12,000 metric tons of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve for distribution to victims of this flood disaster in the country as a way of assuaging their suffering.
”Out of this, 105 metric tons of maize, 88.7 metric tons of sorghum and 98.7 metric tons of garri are to be distributed to the victims of flood disaster in Delta.
”In addition, there are relief materials and other interventions that have been provided since July 2022 by NEMA, an Agency under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.”
Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa commended the federal government for the initiative saying that 8000 beneficiaries were captured under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) in the state with monthly stipends of N5,000.
Okowa, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Humanitarian and Community Support Services, Dr Darlington Ijeh, said that 585 savings groups and 300 cooperatives groups were established for the programme. (NAN)
