FIC Report (Ebonyi State) – The Ebonyi State Government and the Federal Government has rolled out the Renewed Hope FarmerMoni 3.0 programme in the South-East, targeting smallholder farmers with interest-free, collateral-free loans to increase productivity and strengthen food security.
The programme, organised by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (N-SIPA) in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Government, was unveiled during the Renewed Hope FarmerMoni South-East Media Sensitisation and Stakeholders’ Engagement held at Re-Meritona Hotels and Suites in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
The launch in Abakaliki forms part of the broader Renewed Hope Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (RHGEEP) 3.0, driven by N-SIPA under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, described FarmerMoni as one of the flagship intervention programmes of the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister, represented by the National Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Hon. Hamza Baba, said the programme was designed to provide interest-free financial support to small-scale farmers to improve productivity, strengthen food security, and reduce rural poverty.
Baba disclosed that Ebonyi State was selected to host the South-East zonal media sensitisation because of its growing profile in agriculture, particularly in rice, cassava, and livestock production.
He commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for implementing policies that have positioned Ebonyi as an emerging agricultural hub in the country.
According to him, the state government’s investments in irrigation, livestock development, agricultural value chains, and rural infrastructure demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable food production.
The Federal Government is committed to supporting Nigerian farmers through inclusive economic growth and strategic agricultural partnerships. FarmerMoni is not a grant but an interest-free loan designed to support vulnerable farmers.
Beneficiaries are expected to utilise the funds judiciously and repay within six to nine months to enable others to benefit,” Baba said.
He further revealed that beneficiaries who successfully repay the loans would qualify for larger credit facilities through partnerships with financial institutions, including the Bank of Agriculture and NIRSAL.
Baba urged desk officers and field coordinators selected from the local government areas to ensure transparency, credibility, and fairness during the enumeration and monitoring of beneficiaries.
Speaking while flagging off the programme, State Governor Francis Nwifuru said the state government remained committed to transformative leadership anchored on the “People’s Charter of Needs” policy framework.
The Governor, represented by the State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Ikeuwa Omebeh, said the government had continued to invest heavily in peacebuilding, security, human capital development, and agricultural empowerment programmes aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable communities across the state.
According to him, the Nwifuru administration has prioritised the construction of concrete-paved rural roads and modern markets in rural communities to ease access to farms and improve the marketing of agricultural produce.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction for sustaining intervention programmes in agriculture and poverty alleviation, noting that Ebonyi people had benefited immensely from the initiatives.
Also speaking, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Mrs. Ann Aligwe, said many smallholder farmers running into thousands in the state would benefit from the programme, with each beneficiary expected to receive N300,000.
She explained that the intervention aligns with Governor Nwifuru’s Charter of Needs agenda, which prioritises citizens’ welfare and human capital development.
Aligwe recalled that the state government recently flagged off the distribution of debit cards to about 35,000 beneficiaries of another social investment initiative across the 13 local government areas of the state.
She advised beneficiaries not to divert the funds but to invest strictly in farming activities to maximise productivity and improve their livelihoods.
On whether additional phases would be introduced, the Commissioner noted that the current allocation covered only the approved beneficiaries, adding that further expansion would depend on decisions by the Federal Government.
In his address, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ebonyi State chapter, Dr. Ignatius Unah, commended President Tinubu for introducing people-oriented programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He described FarmerMoni, TraderMoni, and MarketMoni as strategic interventions capable of transforming rural economies and empowering artisans, traders, and farmers.
Similarly, the Head of Administration of GEEP, Ifeoma Chukwumbah, said FarmerMoni targets smallholder farmers involved in crop production, poultry, fisheries, livestock, and allied agricultural ventures.
She explained that beneficiaries would receive collateral-free, interest-free loans of up to N300,000, with repayment structured around farming cycles.
According to her, repayment would commence three months after disbursement and could span six to nine months, depending on the nature of farming activities.
Chukwumbah disclosed that unpaid beneficiaries captured under GEEP 2.0 in 2022 would also be accommodated once revalidated, while fresh registrations are ongoing for new participants under GEEP 3.0.
As part of the sensitisation programme, officials and stakeholders, led by the Permanent Secretary, Ebonyi State Ministry of Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Mr. Henry Nworie, visited selected agricultural clusters, including SCON Agro Farm in Okaria Edda community in Abakaliki Local Government Area and Diamond Testimony Farm at Ameta Ezza in Ezza South Local Government Area.
The farms, which specialise in poultry, piggery, fisheries, palm plantations, and other livestock activities, were showcased as examples of Ebonyi’s growing agricultural potential under ongoing government interventions.
BAKARE LAURETTA
HOC FIC ABAKALIKI
15/5/2026
