President Bola Tinubu’s administration has revived the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, GEEP, a social investment scheme first introduced under former President Muhammadu Buhari, in a renewed push to support small businesses, farmers, women and young entrepreneurs across Nigeria.
The programme, which operates under the National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA, is designed to expand financial inclusion by providing zero-interest, collateral-free loans to Nigerians at the lower end of the economic ladder. It targets petty traders, artisans, smallholder farmers, market women, tricycle riders and other micro-service providers who have historically lacked access to formal credit.
After years of stagnation, delays and allegations of corruption that dogged the initiative during the Buhari era, the Federal Government has now relaunched GEEP, reopening its application portal to the public. Officials say eligible beneficiaries can access loans of up to ₦300,000 to support business expansion and agricultural activities.
GEEP is implemented by the Bank of Industry and is structured as a microcredit intervention for micro, small and medium enterprises. Government records show the scheme was originally designed to reach more than 37 million Nigerians engaged in informal commerce, many of whom operate outside the banking system.
Despite its ambitions, the programme has remained controversial. Past reviews highlighted weak monitoring, poor loan recovery and claims of political interference. Several reports accused officials of diverting funds meant for beneficiaries, raising questions about transparency and accountability. Nigeria Communications Week previously reported that large portions of intervention funds were mismanaged or could not be properly accounted for.
Academic assessments also raised concerns about the political use of the scheme. The African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development noted perceptions that GEEP was deployed as a vote-buying tool in some regions, creating mistrust among intended beneficiaries.
Broader challenges facing Nigeria’s social investment programmes persist, including poor implementation frameworks, inadequate infrastructure and limited oversight. Even donor-supported initiatives, including some funded by USAID, have struggled with funding cuts and logistical constraints, limiting their long-term impact on poverty reduction and national development.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, which oversees the programme, announced via its official channels that interested applicants can now submit applications through the GEEP portal. The ministry says the relaunch reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to empowering grassroots entrepreneurs and improving livelihoods, while promising tighter controls to prevent abuse.
Whether the revived GEEP will overcome the credibility problems of the past remains uncertain, but for millions of small-scale traders and farmers, the reopening of the portal offers a fresh opportunity to access credit in an economy still grappling with inflation and high unemployment.
