FG Requires National Identification Numbers for Trade Grants Application

The Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment has mandated applicants of the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme to submit their National Identification Numbers (NINs) as part of the necessary requirements to access grants aimed at alleviating the impact of recent economic reforms on businesses in Nigeria.

The government, through the Bank of Industry, announced plans to disburse three categories of funding totaling N200 billion to support manufacturers and businesses across the country. This new requirement follows the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive for Nigerians to link their NINs with their bank accounts.

Trade Minister Doris Aniete issued the directive, explaining that all applicants would receive an SMS from ‘FGGRANTLOAN’ with instructions to submit their NINs via a secure link. Only verified applicants will receive this notification, and the NINs must match the applicant’s name for the process to proceed.

The ministry expressed appreciation for applicants’ patience and cooperation, promising to keep them updated on their application’s progress. This latest development marks another delay in disbursing the grant announced by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023 for manufacturers and small businesses.

Despite promises by the minister, the programme is yet to reach a significant stage, leaving prospective beneficiaries in the dark about the reasons for the delay. Femi Egbesola, President of the Association of Small Business Owners, expressed frustration over the slow pace of data collation by supervising agencies, alleging that genuine businesses were being discouraged from accessing the loans.