FG Warns Applicants Not To Pay Facilitation Fee For MSMEs Grant
The Federal Government has commenced registration for the payroll support scheme of the N75 billion Survival Fund. The fund is aimed at supporting vulnerable Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) post-COVID-19.
It will seem that fraudsters have taken to scamming applicants to pay ‘facilitation fee’. The federal government has come out to release a state to caution unsuspecting applicants.
Vanguard reports, The Federal Government says applicants will not pay any ‘facilitation fee’ to access its intervention grant for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and cautions unsuspecting applicants against fraudsters.
Mrs Mariam Katagum, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, stated this at a news conference on the implementation process of the Survival Fund on Thursday in Abuja.
Katagum, who is also the Chairperson, Programme Steering Committee, said the Project Delivering Office (PDO) for the scheme was receiving feedback from Nigerians since its registration portal opened on Sept. 21, for applicants.
According to her, the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP), has commenced nationwide implementation of the National MSME Survival Fund and the Guaranteed Off-take Stimulus Schemes.
Minister said: “Applicants are to access the fund at no cost since the initiative is borne out of the Federal Government’s continued commitment to help cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.
“The Survival Fund will not at any time or for any reason request payment or facilitation fees to access the grants.
“We will, however, like to draw the attention of the public to attempts by scammers and other undesirable elements to swindle innocent Nigerians with promises of assured disbursements for a fee.
“The public is encouraged to report any such nefarious activities to the nearest security agents and follow up with a report to the PDO via the mediums provided on the website.
“The PDO has received reports of some attempted cyber-attacks on the application website.
Mr Tola Johnson, the Special Assistant to the President on MSMEs and Project Coordinator for the Survival Funurged trade associations and unions to mobilise their members to apply for the grant to enable them ameliorate the challenges facing their businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/09/fg-warns-applicants-not-to-pay-facilitation-fee-for-msmes-grant/
