GEEP 2.0 Scheme: 828 Entrepreneurs Get Interest -free Loans In Bayelsa, Says FG

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said eight hundred and twenty eight entrepreneurs from Bayelsa State has benefited from the interest-free loans organized under its Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme 2.0 (GEEP 2.0) scheme.

According to the statement made on Tuesday by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq, she said the Federal Government has disbursed interest-free loans to 828 beneficiaries where each were entitled to between N50,000 and N300,000 in compliance with the prerequisites of the scheme.

Explaining further,She opined that the loan requires  no collateral or any form of  security to obtain the it and that the purpose of it is  to develop or expand their businesses in a manner that will transform the economy positively.

Speaking: “GEEP was designed by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to assist vulnerable and low-income Nigerians involved in commercial activities but had never had the opportunity to access loans.

“It is meant to give priority to the most vulnerable such as widows, youths, the disabled and the displaced, amongst others”.

Saying 8,762 entrepreneurs applied for the facility in Bayelsa, but only 828 met the set criteria and were shortlisted to receive the loans to boos their business.

She added that the beneficiaries were free to take additional loans after the repayment of the one received on Tuesday and urged them to use the funds prudently.

Farouq explained that the Federal Government initiated several social intervention programmes in 2016 to bring succour and relief to the poor and the vulnerable so as to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

In her remarks, Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs and Social Development in Bayelsa, Mrs Faith Opuene, expressed appreciation on behalf of the beneficiaries.

She applauded the Federal Government for the gesture which, she said complemented the state government’s scheme of empowering 210 persons monthly in the eight local government areas of the state.

Opuene expressed regret that only about 10 per cent of applicants for the facility were selected.

She said that there was the need to sensitise the people of Bayelsa about the social intervention programmes of the Federal Government to increase the number of beneficiaries