TRADER MONEY: MATAN Holds Talk With Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, says its digital data platform best to reach over 40 million traders

By Dansu Peter 

The Market Traders Association of Nigeria, MATAN, has said its platform is the best and most veritable channel to distribute the Federal Government's Trader Money, a microcredit scheme of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) to provide a base of capital for Nigerians to start small-scale businesses.

This was the position of the MATAN executives led by Ambassador Olakunle Johnson, the National Chairman, Project Implementation Steering Committee on VAT Direct Initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, when they had a meeting with the Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, on October 26, 2023, at the ministry in Abuja.

The minister, Dr. Betta Edu, who was represented by Mr. Taiwo Ademola Bashorun, the Director of Social Development of the ministry, reiterated the commitment of the minister to ensure the policy implementation is successful. The Minister said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is resolved to make life more meaningful and bearable for all Nigerians in his renewed hope agenda and ensure most Nigerians are lifted from poverty.

Also at the meeting was Deputy Director, Social Development, Mr. Akin Alesinloye, among other top ministry's officials.

According to Amb. Johnson, who also doubles as the national secretary of MATAN, the meeting was to discuss effective ways of implementing the Federal Government's conditional cash transfer to members of MATAN across the country. The traders' association disclosed that it has over 40 million registered members across the six geopolitical regions of Nigeria and a digital platform that could be used to effectively distribute the FG's Trader Money to intending beneficiaries without compromise.

Other MATAN's executives at the meeting were: Alhaji Labaran Mohammed, the BoT Chairman; Alhaji Abubakar Sokoto; Barr Donald Ayibiowu, the National Legal Adviser; Hajjia Yesmin, the BoT member representing FCT; Hajjia Aisha; Dr. Mrs. Titilayo; and others.