*Says SIP has improved livelihood nationwide
*As Vice President launches TraderMoni in other Lagos markets
In continuation of the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s TraderMoni scheme, which has so far given N10,000 collateral and interest-free loans to over 800,000 petty traders nationwide, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), in Lagos, formally launched the scheme in other markets in the state.
The Vice President will launch the scheme in Ketu, Bariga and Oshodi markets in Lagos.
While there are so far over 809,000 beneficiaries of TraderMoni, over 1.1 million Nigerians – market women, traders, artisans, farmers – are currently beneficiaries of Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), which comprises FarmerMoni, MarketMoni and TraderMoni.
Senior Special Assistant to the President in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, said listed other social investment programmes of the government that many Nigerians have enjoyed and which is improving their lives economically.
“FarmerMoni loans start at N300,000 and are for farmers in farming clusters, via farm aggregators, while MarketMoni is a 6-month interest-free credit of between N50,000 and N300,000 for small businesses – medium-scale traders, market women, artisans, and youth in market associations – under the auspices of their cooperative societies.
“Under the TraderMoni scheme, beneficiaries can have access to a higher facility ranging from N15,000 to N100,000 when they repay N10,000 within the stipulated time period.
“The micro-credit scheme under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) was first formally launched on August 7, 2018 in five markets in Lagos State – Mushin, Ikotun, Agege, Ketu, and Abule Egba areas.
“TraderMoni, which is part of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme (N-SIP), is designed to assist petty traders across the country expand their trade through the provision of collateral and interest-free loans from N10,000. The loans are repayable over a period of six months.
“The scheme, which has since been formally launched in 33 states and the FCT, is expected to reach twp million petty traders by the end of the year.
“Also, through TraderMoni scheme, the Buhari Administration aims to take financial inclusion down to the grassroots, and uplift Nigerians at the bottom of the pyramid, considering the contribution of petty traders to economic development.
“The Federal Government is also aware of the fact that many of the petty traders don’t have what the commercial banks require to grant them loans,” the statement said.
