By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Dutse – The Federal Government says it is targeting 46,000 beneficiaries in Jigawa under its Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program (GEEP).
Mr Bala Usman, the Coordinator of the Federal Government’s Special Intervention Program (SPI) in the state, made this known while speaking to news men in Dutse on Friday.
According to Usman, the selection process has commenced, with a view to selecting beneficiaries for the programme.
“The GEEP has a target of about 46,000 beneficiaries in the state and the selection process has also begun,’’ Usman said.
He explained that to access the loan, a beneficiary must belong to a registered Cooperative Society.
“The process of election provides that beneficiaries must come under a platform of cooperative society to enjoy the loan,’’ he said.
The coordinator added that the SPI office in the state had so far received the names of more than 15,000 individuals, who applied for the loan under different cooperative societies.
According to him, the SPI office is also liaising with its Coordinators in the 27 local government areas of the state to mobilise more interested groups to apply for the loan.
Usman further noted that the amount being charged by the state Ministry of Commerce to register cooperative groups had been reduced from N4,200 to 2,500.
“The registration fee of cooperative groups under this programme (GEEP), was reduced to N2,500 from N4,200 being collected by the ministry of commerce,’’ Usman said.
He added that officials from the National Office of the SPI would soon be in the state to commence the selection of beneficiaries for the programme.
The coordinator pointed out that successful beneficiaries would be given between N10,00 and N100,000 to enhance their businesses. (NAN)