The Federal Government of Nigeria said it has kick start the distribution of one-off grant of N30,000 Transport track of the Artisans and Transport scheme under the MSME Survival Fund and Guaranteed Offtake Schemes
This scheme according to the Minister for State for Industry, Trade and Investment, who doubles as chairperson for the scheme committee ,Ambassador Mariam Yalwaji Katagum who represented by Mr Adewale Bakare industrial Development Department of the ministry will see the disbursement of one-off grant of N30, 000 to transport workers nationwide.
She made this known today, Monday, in Abuja during the official launching of the transport track of the artisans and transport scheme.
I welcome you all to the formal launch of the Transport track of the Artisans & Transport scheme under the MSME Survival Fund and Guaranteed Offtake Schemes.
Addressing newsmen the minister said "You will recall that on 1st October, 2020 during the launch of the Artisans Track, under the Artisan and Transport Scheme, we committed to announce to the media and the entire public that they would be duly informed once it was time to kick off with the Transport Track.
"It is in keeping to that promise that we are here today give a one-off grant of N30, 000 each to qualified individuals operating in the Transport sector.
She stressed that the beneficiaries include: Ride share drivers, such as Uber, Bolt, taxi drivers, bus drivers, keke Napep riders, okada riders, cart pushers among others.
The Minister noted that the scheme was to support self-employed individuals like Mechanics, Taxi Drivers, Hairdressers, Keke Napep Riders, Okada riders, plumbers, electricians with a one-off Payment of N30,000 to each.
She maintained that the disburment of the one-off payment of N30,000 will stimulate direct local production in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja by enabling MSMEs in the production sector with funds to stimulate ‘post COVID lockdown’ off-take products.
"Let me reiterate that disbursement of funds in 24 States in the 1st and 2nd streams under the Artisans track commenced on the 20th of October 2020, while verification process has started for States under Stream 3.
'The Formalization Support Track commenced on 26th October 2020. Registration by aggregators (CAC registration agents) commenced across the 36 states and the FCT at the same time.
"This scheme is ongoing and will run for a period of 3 months effective from the date of commencement. Any state whose quota is met before the expiration of the three-month timeframe will be automatically logged out.
"Under the Transport Track, being launched today, applicants are encouraged to apply through their registered Associations to be enumerated. Individuals who are members of Associations but choose not to apply through their Association can be enumerated but this ‘independent’ applicant will need proof of membership to be enumerated.
Speaking on how to access the fund, she said all intending beneficiaries are expected to apply through their (registered) Associations. Individuals may walk up to our enumerators without routing through their Association; but such an individual must have valid proof of membership of the Association he/she claims to belong to.
She, however, urged transport workers including cart pushers across the country to take advantage of this scheme saying the programme is absolutely free.