The Federal Government will soon commence disbursement of interest-free loans to smallholder farmers and businesses across the country before the end of 2025, the National Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, Hamza Ibrahim Baba, has said.

Baba made this known on Friday in Kaduna during an engagement with representatives of the traders’ associations and other stakeholders in the state’s informal business sector.

He said the loans, up to N100,000 per beneficiary, were part of the FarmerMoni scheme under GEEP, which aims to support small-scale farmers involved in poultry, aquaculture, livestock rearing, and crop production.

“This pilot phase will support farmers nationwide, small-scale business owners including Kaduna State.

“Beneficiaries will enjoy a six-month moratorium to enable them to produce before beginning repayment.

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“The funds will help them acquire inputs such as fertilisers, livestock, veterinary drugs, and other critical tools,” Baba said.

Baba said that the programme, domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was one of the flagship initiatives under the National Social Investment Programme.

According to him, GEEP provides collateral-free, interest-free loans to micro-enterprises, petty traders, artisans, youth entrepreneurs, and farmers to help scale up their businesses and ensure financial inclusion.

He explained that GEEP operates three schemes: TraderMoni, targeting youths aged 18 to 45 involved in petty trades; MarketMoni, focused on women in small-scale trading; and FarmerMoni, for rural farmers.

Baba added, “These are not grants. They are loans but interest-free.

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“The goal is to help Nigerians at the bottom of the pyramid improve their businesses, become part of the formal financial system, and eventually create jobs.”

The co-ordinator said the loans ranged from N5,000 to N100,000, depending on the scheme, and were structured to promote sustainability through monitoring and evaluation.

He urged traders’ associations and cooperatives to work closely with GEEP Desk Officers and field enumerators across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to ensure that only deserving beneficiaries were selected.

“The success of this programme depends on transparency and proper targeting.
$We want to reach those who truly need support, not those looking to take advantage of the system,” he added.

Baba assured that the Tinubu administration was committed to expanding the reach of all GEEP schemes, stressing that the pilot farmer intervention would lay the foundation for broader rollout in 2026.

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He acknowledged the contributions of previous administrations and Ministers to GEEP’s development since its inception in 2016 and extolled ongoing reforms aimed at improving delivery and accountability.

He said, “GEEP also works in synergy with other NSIP components, including the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer, and Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

“These are all aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihoods across Nigeria.”

In an interview, one of the beneficiaries, Hauwa Musa, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the gesture, stating that the support had significantly impacted her life and helped expand her business.

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Another respondent, Mallam Umar Usman, said he had not benefited from the programme yet but expressed hope of being included in the upcoming GEEP 3.0 phase, whose disbursement was expected to commence soon.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the market leaders and stakeholders also commended the Federal Government for supporting business owners with interest-free loans.

They assured that they would work closely with the GEEP Desk Officers to ensure fair distribution and that the support reached those who genuinely needed it.

A Nigerian-born researcher, Babatunde Soyoye, has achieved a breakthrough in sustainable transportation with his pioneering work in electric vehicle (EV) wireless charging technology and advanced battery management systems.

Soyoye, in an interview with The PUNCH on Friday, said at Tennessee Tech University, USA, where he bagged his Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering, he worked on a major challenge hindering EV adoption, charging efficiency.

Soyoye, who earned his first degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, revealed that His journey into this field was sparked by a fascination with how sustainable energy could transform global transportation.

“I wanted to explore how technology could help make EV batteries more efficient and accessible.

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“This led me to focus my research on wireless charging and advanced battery management systems,” he said.

Speaking about his research, which uses a CLLLC resonant network, a type of resonant circuit that enables efficient wireless power transfer without physical connectors, he said, “My research centred on enhancing the wireless charging of EVs, which is a key challenge for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

“One of the main problems with wireless charging systems for EVs is the efficiency and stability of power transfer.

“I developed a method using a CLLLC resonant network, which is a type of resonant circuit that allows for efficient power transfer without the need for physical connectors.

“The innovative part of my research was the design of the novel Layered DD coil, which improved the efficiency and power transfer capacity of the system.

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“The layered DD coil essentially enhances the magnetic field coupling between the transmitter and receiver coils, minimising energy losses during power transfer.

“This leads to faster, more reliable charging for EVs, which could help reduce charging times and increase convenience for users.

“My work has produced multiple papers in IEEE journals and conferences, including notable presentations at the IEEE Power and Energy Society, IEEE PVSC, and other major symposia.”

Originally from Abeokuta, Ogun State, Soyoye explained that his work had been presented at prestigious platforms, including the IEEE Power and Energy Society and the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, and published in several IEEE journals.

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He added that his research could accelerate EV adoption by addressing one of its biggest challenges, charging infrastructure.

“Improving speed, efficiency, and accessibility of EV charging will significantly affect mass adoption. Integrating renewable energy sources like solar-powered charging stations will be key to creating a truly sustainable ecosystem,” he maintained.

Soyoye said, “The future of electric vehicles is incredibly promising. As more governments and companies shift focus toward sustainability, EVs are poised to play a major role in reducing our carbon footprint and dependence on fossil fuels.

“However, as the demand for EVs grows, so does the need for more efficient charging solutions.

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“This is why my research is so important—improving the speed, efficiency, and accessibility of EV charging will significantly affect the mass adoption of electric vehicles.

“Moreover, the integration of renewable energy sources into EV infrastructure—such as solar-powered charging stations—will be crucial in creating a truly sustainable ecosystem.

“My work on wireless charging and advanced battery systems could potentially complement this integration by improving how energy is transmitted and stored in EVs, making them even more efficient and practical for consumers.”

Beyond the laboratory, Soyoye said he values his role as a Nigerian voice in global technology forums.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, has criticised state governors who publicly donate cars, houses, and other items to judges.

He described the gesture as demeaning and damaging to judicial independence.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Osigwe expressed concern that the practice undermines the image of the judiciary.

This is as he added that it also fuels perceptions of undue influence by the executive.

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The host highlighted concerns about judicial independence at the state level, noting that governors’ funding of courts and provision of facilities often fuel suspicions of compromised autonomy.

“It is concerning to us that the governors would do things for the judiciary as if they were doing them a favour,

“Oftentimes, it’s annoying seeing some governors talk about how, ‘Oh, I give cars to my judges,’ or even invite the judges and do a public presentation of vehicles or some other material to members of the judiciary,” Osigwe said.

Govs don’t bankroll judges
According to the NBA President, such acts diminish the stature of the judiciary and give the impression that judges are beholden to governors who bankroll their needs.

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“We believe it’s demeaning and ought not to be.

“The judiciary should be an independent part of government and should not be demeaned or reduced to a point where members of the judiciary should be given handouts as if a favour was being done to them,” Osigwe stressed.

He warned that no judiciary could claim true independence if it relied on the executive for basic operational needs.

“There’s no way you can convince any person that the judiciary that finds itself in such a situation is independent. Never!

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“Even if it is independent, the perception will always be that they are at the beck and call of the executive, and that the executive will always bend them to their will; otherwise, those handouts will cease,” he declared.

The NBA boss insisted that all judicial needs — from vehicles to courtrooms and infrastructure — must be captured in budgets and executed by the judiciary itself.

He dismissed excuses that the judiciary lacks capacity to manage funds, noting that professionals are employed within the system to handle such responsibilities.

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“The executive should not emasculate the judiciary, reduce them to a weeping boy, or a beggar.

“It demeans the judiciary, robs it of its independence, and makes it difficult for the people to trust that such a judiciary can be independent,” Osigwe cautioned.

While noting that the federal judiciary enjoys greater financial autonomy, Osigwe urged state governments to urgently adopt similar practices to safeguard the credibility of their courts.

“Justice is rooted in confidence, and the day that confidence is eroded, or seems to be gone, the people’s confidence in the judiciary’s ability will forever be eroded,” he warned.