The Federal Government (FG) through the office of the Vice President has launched the transport support track under its MSME Survival Fund Schemes to support transport workers whose businesses were affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.
The scheme was launched last Monday, November 30, 2020, following the successful disbursement of over N1.7bn to a total number of 59,000 individual Artisan across 24 states in Stream 1 and Stream 2 States.
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According to a statement by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on his personal blog:
“While verified Artisans have started receiving the N30,000 one-time grants, Nigerians operating in the transport business – including Rideshare drivers (Uber, Bolt, etc.), Taxi drivers, Bus drivers, Keke Napep riders, Okada riders, cart pushers etc., now have the opportunity to benefit from the scheme.”
“There will be a total of 9,009 beneficiaries per state for both Artisan and Transport beneficiaries. Of this number per state, there will be a total of 4,505 beneficiaries under the transport scheme, while the remaining 4,504 will be artisan beneficiaries.” He added.
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How to Be a Beneficiary of the One-Time Grant
Apply through Transport Associations: Nigerians have been encouraged to apply through their registered transport associations. Some of the associations highlighted are National Union of Road Transport Workers, Keke Riders’ Association, Okada Riders’ Association, Uber, and Bolt Service among others.
Application Also Available through Enumerators: The Vice President also buttressed that individuals can apply without going through their associations with a condition that such individual provides proof of membership to a registered transport association.
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Application Process is Free: The Federal Government MSME Survival Fund Schemes are not profit-oriented, as such, the application process is free and grant are paid directly into beneficiary’s account.
With a commitment to cushion the economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the Federal Government implemented a number of survival schemes in its Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) targeted at Small and medium Scale Entreprises.
The transport Track targeted is one of the survival schemes targeted at supporting road transporters. Other survival plan include the Formalization Support Scheme (Free Business Name Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission) which commenced on 26th October, 2020 and scheduled to last for three months. Click this link for list of the FG Survival Schemes and how to apply.