The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering smallholder farmers as part of the Renewed Hope Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP 3.0) — FarmerMoni initiative. This announcement was made during a media and sensitization event held for the North-West Zone in Jigawa State.
The event, attended by government stakeholders, traditional and community leaders, implementation partners, and FarmerMoni beneficiaries, underscored the government’s ongoing dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and promoting financial inclusion. The program is seen as a critical intervention to enhance food security and support agricultural productivity, especially among smallholder farmers.
The National Coordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Assoc. Prof. Badamasi Lawal, represented by Hon. Hamza Baba, National Programme Manager of GEEP, outlined the details of the sensitization programme. The event specifically targeted registered and revalidated FarmerMoni beneficiaries, offering clear guidance on appropriate fund utilization, accountability, and repayment obligations to ensure the program’s sustainability.
Speaking at the event, Badamasi emphasized that FarmerMoni is a recoverable loan, not a grant. Beneficiaries are encouraged to use the funds to enhance their agricultural enterprises—whether in crop production, livestock, or poultry. The loan structure includes a moratorium period of 6 to 9 months, depending on the activity, to allow for cultivation and harvest, followed by a repayment plan that ranges from 3 to 6 months.
NSIPA’s robust monitoring and evaluation framework, which includes the GEEP Dashboard, will track beneficiaries’ progress, ensuring transparency and proper utilization of the funds. The government is committed to providing the necessary support to translate each loan into a viable agricultural enterprise, with lessons drawn from Jigawa’s successful goat empowerment scheme. This model integrates livestock provision, cooperative structures, veterinary support, and market linkages to increase productivity and financial sustainability.
In his concluding remarks, Badamasi reiterated that the programme is not a handout, but a structured financial support system designed to promote long-term agricultural growth. He urged beneficiaries to approach the opportunity with discipline and integrity and to become ambassadors for the programme within their communities.
The Honourable Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties of Jigawa State also commended the programme, praising the state’s investment in irrigation, tractorization, high-quality inputs, and complementary empowerment schemes. He emphasized that these initiatives, alongside federal credit, would contribute significantly to agricultural outcomes and strengthen food security in the region.
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NSIPA and Jigawa State authorities have called on all FarmerMoni beneficiaries to use the funds exclusively for their designated agricultural activities, adhere to the agreed moratorium and repayment timelines, and engage with extension services and cooperative groups for technical support.
This initiative is a pivotal step toward fostering a sustainable and productive agricultural sector in Nigeria, with the goal of achieving national food security.
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