By Peter Duru

MAKURDI—Benue State traders have been provided over N1.5  billion to boost their businesses under Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, GEEP, of the state Social Investments Program, SIP.

Gov Samuel Ortom

The fund, also known as Market Moni, would be doled out as loans to 35,730 beneficiaries with six months repayment period after two weeks moratorium.

The state Focal Person of Social Investments Programme, SIP, Mr. Conrad Utaan, who made this known, yesterday, after leading his officials on a roadshow to create awareness for the programme, said the beneficiaries would be petty traders, artisans, market men and women but through their cluster groups.

He said: “The programme is called ‘Market Moni’ and aims at getting co-operative societies to access loans from the Bank of Industry, BoI, with the Bureau of Rural Development and Cooperatives acting as guarantor, while the Social Investments Programme will serve as agent and facilitator.

“N50,000 would be given to individuals with a zero interest rate in the first instance and as much as N250,000 given out subsequently to those who would be able to complete their repayments within the allowed period.”