Nigerian Small Businesses Accuse Government of Deception Over Unpaid MSME Grants

Small business owners and artisans who participated in the 8th National MSME Clinic in Calabar are accusing the Nigerian government of misleading them after the promised N250,000 grants failed to materialize for most exhibitors. Despite a direct directive from Vice President Kashim Shettima to disburse the funds, many participants say they have received nothing.

During his visit to the exhibition on August 12, 2025, Vice President Shettima had announced the immediate payment of grants to selected exhibitors under the Renewed Hope Agenda. However, weeks later, a large number of participants are still waiting for their funds, while only a small, unspecified group has been credited. This has led to widespread frustration and allegations of deception among the small business community.

Lawrence Akomaye, a shoemaker, expressed his disappointment, stating that organizers had encouraged them to invest heavily in product rebranding and packaging, with the belief that all exhibitors would benefit. “I borrowed money for labels, stickers and packaging. We were told to make our booths attractive. But on the day of the event, the Vice President only walked past one side of the hall,” he said, adding that participants were never informed of a selection process for the grants.

The confusion was echoed by Mrs. Kuku Oden, a fresh juice producer, who lamented spending over N150,000 on event preparation without any form of compensation. “Some people got alerts after the event, but most of us didn’t. We later heard staff from the Vice President’s office took over the payment process. We were left confused,” she stated. She also criticized the event’s poor logistics, which left many exhibitors in isolated halls with little to no visibility.

Further compounding the frustration, participants discovered that the official WhatsApp group for exhibitors had been locked by administrators, preventing them from communicating their grievances or receiving official updates. One exhibitor, Rosemary Kekong, expressed her dismay, saying, “They treated us like we don’t matter. We spent money, brought our products, and got nothing. Later, we saw that even people who were not on the exhibitors’ list were credited.”