The Federal Government has introduced a scheme to remove structural, market and policy barriers and accelerate access to consumer credit by Nigerians.
It is a major campaign promise by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, designed to give Nigerians access to credit to purchase household and other items of need without paying direct cash.
The target is to have 50 per cent of the working populace on the scheme’s net by 2030.
It was learnt that the first set of 500,000 beneficiaries would be civil servants.
According to Nwagba, “the funding has been received”, and the disbursement process is set to begin immediately.
“The bottom line is that this programme is about to start, and it will happen this week or latest on Monday, next week,” Nwagba told The Nation.
He further stated that the scheme’s implementation will be carried out through participating financial institutions (PFIs), which will manage the credit distribution rather than CREDICORP directly engaging with individual customers.
Nwagba said: “The first phase of this initiative will see 15,000 civil servants being credited in each round, continuing until the target of 500,000 civil servants are reached.
“After this initial phase, the scheme will be extended to include other eligible members of the public, broadening its impact on Nigeria’s economy.”
In a statement, the CREDICORP announced in Abuja that the disbursement of consumer credit to economically-active Nigerians had officially commenced through its network of PFIs.
Among the first wave of institutions involved is Credit Direct, Nigeria’s largest lender to civil servants and a subsidiary of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Group.
This partnership aims to accelerate access to consumer credit, particularly for civil servants nationwide.
Starting in early September, civil servants on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) will benefit from exclusive offers, including reduced interest rates and flexible repayment plans.
Nwagba expressed enthusiasm about the launch, noting that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the well-being of Nigerians.
He said: “We are excited to partner with Credit Direct to kick off President Tinubu’s consumer credit scheme with civil servants, as Mr. President had promised.”
The CRIDCORP boss added that through the partnership, civil servants could access instant and affordable credit, which will help them manage economic challenges and improve their quality of life.
The scheme’s design, which mirrors the model used by the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), involves providing wholesale capital or credit guarantees to PFIs ensuring a structured and efficient rollout of the programme.
The key feature of the credit offer includes some of the lowest interest rates in the market beginning from Tuesday.
Civil servants will have the opportunity to access loans of up to N3.5 million, depending on their income and needs.
Additionally, the scheme offers flexible repayment plans tailored to the unique circumstances of each borrower, alongside a quick and easy application process to facilitate fast access to funds.
The importance of consumer credit in modern economies cannot be overstated, as it enables citizens to make crucial purchases, such as homes, vehicles, education, and healthcare, while repaying responsibly over time.
Earlier in the year, President Tinubu endorsed the scheme, noting that consumer credit is vital for achieving social mobility and improving the standard of living for hardworking Nigerians.
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