•In historic drive, CAC registers 2m MSMEs at once
•Seeks to formalise 20m businesses in 2024, eyes N20 billion in taxes
Nume Ekeghe in Lagos and James Emejo in Abuja
The federal government has, through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI), established three funds totalling N200 billion to support businesses across Nigeria, at nine per cent interest, to be disbursed by the Bank of Industry (BOI).
In a similar vein, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), in partnership with Moniepoint Micro Finance Bank, yesterday, registered an unprecedented two million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), effectively formalising their operations in the country.
The three funds established by the federal government were the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS), the FGN MSME Intervention Fund, and the FGN Manufacturing Sector Fund. BOI was appointed as the executing agency for the funds, and vested with the responsibility for their day-to-day administration.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of BOI, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, in a statement, reiterated BOI’s commitment to the development of MSMEs as the bedrock of the economy, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Olusi stated, “The Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS) is a N50 billion grant scheme to support eligible Nano Business owners. The grant will be disbursed to a minimum of 1,000 beneficiaries, especially women and youths, per Local Government Area (LGA) in the 774 LGAs across the nation and the six Council Areas in the FCT.
“The target Nano businesses include traders, food vendors, ICT businesses, transporters, artisans, and creatives, among others.
“This is the grant component of the initiative, as beneficiaries are not required to pay back. To be eligible, beneficiaries must own a Nano business and be willing to register a business name as their business grows, and be willing to engage at least one additional staff member if the business turnover increases.
“They must also be willing to provide proof of residential/business address in their Local Government Area, provide relevant personal and bank account information, including but not limited to, Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN) for verification of identity. The beneficiary must meet the application submission deadline for the scheme.”
Another component of the fund is the FGN MSME Intervention Fund, which is a N75 billion fund, for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, according to the statement.
It said the fund would be used to support eligible MSMEs and serve as a cushion against the high cost of production, marketing and distribution of products arising mainly from infrastructure deficiencies and other ancillary factors involving MSMEs in Nigeria.
Each beneficiary would receive a maximum of N1 million. The fund would be disbursed at an interest rate of nine per cent all-inclusive per annum, with a tenor of three years for equipment and working capital.
According to Olusi, the FGN Manufacturing Sector Fund is a N75 billion fund that would be used to support eligible manufacturing companies and help cushion against the high and rising costs of production, marketing and distribution of products arising from infrastructural deficiencies and other ancillary factors affecting the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. He said beneficiaries would receive up to N1 billion, disbursed at an interest rate of nine per cent all-inclusive per annum, with a tenor of five years for term loans, and one year for working capital.
In Historic Drive, CAC Registers 2m MSMEs At Once
The CAC, in partnership with Moniepoint Micro Finance Bank, yesterday, registered a record two million MSMEs, and effectively formalised their operations in the country.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, who inaugurated the businesses, described the initiative as monumental.
While commending the Registrar-General/Chief Executive, CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, for the laudable effort within a short period in office, Uzoka-Anite said the innovation demonstrated how the use of information technology could catalyse the economic development. She said the development implied that two million additional jobs had been created in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to provide 50 million jobs.
The minister said the registration was unprecedented in the history of the country.
While commending Moniepoint, Uzoka-Anite promised greater collaboration towards formalising additional MSMEs. She said the federal government was prepared for greater partnership with the company, adding that it would consider its request for provision of cheaper funding and grants to enable it draw more small businesses into the formal space, as well as create an enabling environment for them to thrive.
She said, “We will support in all ways we can. We will work on your request. It is fact based and government can support them.”
Magaji said the magnitude of the registration was unprecedented, adding that the commission has a target to formalise 20 million small businesses this year. He added that government would be able to generate about N20 billion in revenues.
He told THISDAY, “What happened today is the CAC facilitating the creation of two million jobs in Nigeria. That’s exactly what happened.
“Mr. President has promised 50 million jobs for the youths. This ground-breaking ceremony will set the target off.
“As we promised early this year, we want to register 20 million jobs and we are commencing today with two million jobs.
“This is happening in Nigeria and it has never happened before.”
On his part, Managing Director, Moniepoint MFB, Mr. Babatunde Olofin, said the initiative would “bring informal small businesses into the books of CAC to further enhance financial inclusion”.
Olofin stated that the initiative would also create jobs, in alignment to Tinubu’s jobs agenda, as well as empower micro, small and medium scale enterprises in the country.
He said Moniepoint had so far created over 600,000 jobs and supported the financial inclusion drive of the federal government.
He said by formalising the businesses, government would be able to get taxes from them.
