The Federal Government said it has targeted over 1.4m Nigerian for the second phase of the government Empowerment and Enterprises Program, GEEP, loan.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Faruk, stated this on Thursday at the official flag-off of the program in Dutse, the state capital of the state.

Represented by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Nasiru Sani Gwarzo, said, the program is in line with the Federal Government’s effort to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

According to him “when President Muhammadu Buhari took over the mantle of leadership in 2015, over 70 percent of Nigerians were living at poverty level”

“Out of concern and determination to change the negative narration, the president established the Social Intervention Program (SIP) under which a series of empowerment and intervention programs were initiated and implemented to tackle the challenges.”

Mrs. Sadiya Faruq explained that the targeted beneficiaries in the second phase will receive N50,000 each as a loan to enhance their small-scale trade.

“Over 6,000 beneficiaries have already been accredited in Jigawa State as beneficiaries of the GEEP program,” she said.

She then charged the beneficiaries, to be determined and self-disciplined in utilizing and paying the loan.