By Adedapo Adesanya
Not less than N554.6 billion has been disbursed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to a total of 2,849,490 farmers across the country under the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) since its inception in 2015.
The scheme, initiated by the central bank, was precisely launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015, and it was part of efforts to ensure food security in Nigeria.
In a communique issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Governor of the CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, disclosed that out of the total amount disbursed so far to the farmers, the sum of N61.02 billion was given to 353,370 dry season farmers.
Mr Emefiele added that the CBN also allocated huge sums of money to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerians.
He said, “Of the CBN’s real sector interventions, under the ABP, N554.63 billion was disbursed to 2,849,490 beneficiaries since the inception of the programme, of which N61.02 billion was allocated to 359,370 dry season farmers.
“In the light of the on-going synchronised efforts by the monetary and fiscal authorities to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank has committed a substantial amount of money towards this objective.
“Indeed, total disbursements as at January 2021 amounted to N2 trillion.
“For COVID-19 Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) meant for household and small businesses, we have disbursed N192.64 billion to 426,016 beneficiaries.
“We have also disbursed N106.96 billion to 27,956 beneficiaries under the AgriBusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme,” Mr Emefiele said.
He added that the apex bank also provided huge sums to support the health sector, youth empowerment as well as the creative industry.
“Through the Health Care Support Intervention Facility, we have disbursed N72.96 billion to 73 projects that comprise 26 pharmaceutical projects and 47 Hospitals and Health Care Services Project in the country.
“The CBN also provided financial support through the Creative Industry Financing Initiative and the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund amounting to N3.12 billion with 320 beneficiaries and N268 million to 395 beneficiaries respectively.
“On enhancing power supply, the bank has so far, provided N18.58 billion for the procurement of 347,853 Classified as Confidential electricity reading meters to Discos in support of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP),” he said.
He assured that the bank would sustain its drive to improve access to credit to the private sector while exploring collaboration with the Federal Government to improve funding to critical sectors of the economy.
