Over 3000 persons have applied for Edo State government N3 billion grant since the online registration platform that was unveiled by the government over a month ago.

The fund which is part of the $750 million federal government economic recovery fund to 36 States of the federation, and it is meant to support small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were impacted by Covid-19 in the State.

Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Cooperatives and Employment, Mr. Joel Edionwe disclosed this while responding to inquiry by the Newspaper in Benin City.

According to him, “We have over 3000 subscribers who have used the google platform to register for the loan. The figure excludes data from the workers on the field”.

The Permanent Secretary had ina previous interview assured that: “The disbursement linked indicators (DLI) will accommodate potential registered and non-registered business owners free of charge without any third party interference.

He also charged residents in the State to cooperate with 1500 Bank of Industry (BoI) agents (enumerators) for data collection on digital platforms for the project Implementation Unit (PIU).

Edionwe emphasized that the BoI agents would help to carryout due diligent and evaluation of applicants during the exercise which does not allow for multiple registrations and business owners in the agricultural sector who would be captured in the livelihood support programme.

“The result area-3 is subdivided into three units called Disbursement Linked Initiative (DLI). The programme is designed in such a way that the Edo State government is the one giving grants to businesses that were affected by COVID-19 to help them recover. From Edo State to the citizens is a grant; from world bank to Nigeria to Edo State is a loan.

“The mode of disbursement is not done by the ministry, this programme is running in partnership with the Bank of Industry, the platform to be adopted is owned by the BoI.

“Whatever data we are going to collate will be forwarded to the BoI, who will then do due diligence to ensure that all applications are treated with merit and in line with the guidelines”, he said.

 30 total views

1 comment