The Federal Government has unveiled RHGEEP 3.0 and formally flagged off the FarmerMonie Dry and Wet Season Programme in Abuja, marking a fresh push to expand financial inclusion, strengthen food security and reduce poverty across Nigeria.
The twin initiatives were introduced by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction through the National Social Investment Programme Agency in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Officials say the programmes are designed to widen access to finance for small businesses and farmers, two sectors seen as critical to job creation and economic stability.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, described the event as a shift from policy statements to measurable action. He said the Renewed Hope Agenda rests on inclusion, resilience and shared prosperity, adding that RHGEEP 3.0 reflects those goals in practical terms.
RHGEEP 3.0 is structured to provide affordable financing to micro and small scale entrepreneurs, including artisans, traders and workers in the informal sector. According to the minister, millions of Nigerians remain outside the formal financial system, limiting their ability to grow businesses or withstand economic shocks. He argued that integrating such groups into mainstream finance would strengthen local economies and promote long term stability.
On agriculture, Dr Doro identified farming as central to national development and social stability. He explained that the FarmerMonie Dry and Wet Season Programme will support smallholder farmers during both planting cycles, helping them manage seasonal risks, raise output and contribute directly to national food supply. He maintained that poverty reduction must be driven by empowerment rather than dependence, with social investment programmes creating lasting economic pathways for households.
The Wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hajiya Fatima Tajudeen Abbas, commended the Federal Government for prioritising grassroots empowerment, particularly for women. She noted that when households gain access to capital and productive opportunities, communities become more stable and self reliant.
The Minister of Women Affairs described the programmes as timely, stressing that women form a large share of Nigeria’s micro business owners and are deeply involved in agricultural value chains. Improved access to credit and enterprise support, she said, will have a direct impact on family welfare and local economies.
Read also:
- Tinubu appoints Ismail Abba Yusuf as NAHCON Chairman after Abdullahi’s resignation
- Adamawa govt relaxes Lamurde curfew, warns trouble makers
- FG flags off Presidential Emergency Food, Nutrition Programme in Sokoto, targets 20,000 vulnerable households
The National Coordinator of NSIPA assured stakeholders that the agency has strengthened its targeting and monitoring systems to improve transparency and ensure that benefits reach intended recipients nationwide.
Providing further details, the National Programme Manager of RHGEEP, Mr Hamza Baba, said RHGEEP 3.0 will offer structured financing to micro and small businesses, while FarmerMonie will deliver interest free and collateral free loans to qualified smallholder farmers. He explained that eligibility criteria have been clearly defined and that technology driven processes will guide registration and disbursement.
The ceremony featured the symbolic presentation of cheques to selected beneficiaries and the unveiling of the official registration portal for applicants. In attendance were senior government officials, heads of agencies, representatives of financial institutions and development partners, leaders of farmers’ associations and cooperatives, and other key stakeholders.
With RHGEEP 3.0 and FarmerMonie now underway, the Federal Government is positioning financial inclusion, small business growth and agricultural support at the centre of its poverty reduction strategy, amid growing public demand for tangible economic relief.
