The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has officially reopened applications for the Lagos CARES Operations Grant, giving small businesses in Lagos another opportunity to receive financial support for their daily business operations.
The grant is designed to help nano, micro, and small businesses reduce the burden of operational expenses affecting their growth and survival. Unlike loans, beneficiaries are not expected to repay the money received under the programme.
The Lagos CARES initiative is part of a broader support programme aimed at helping businesses recover from economic challenges while sustaining jobs and business activities across Lagos State.
The Lagos CARES Operations Grant supports businesses with funding that can cover up to 50 percent of their yearly operating costs.
LSETF stated that the grant can be used for:
The amount applicants can receive depends on the size of their business.
Businesses with 1–2 staff, classified as nano enterprises, can receive up to ₦50,000.
Micro enterprises with 3–9 staff may receive up to ₦500,000, while small businesses with 10 or more staff can access up to ₦1 million.
LSETF explained that applicants must meet certain conditions before applying for the Operations Grant.
Eligible applicants include:
Businesses that already benefited from the Operations Grant in previous application rounds are not eligible to reapply.
For micro enterprises, applicants are generally expected to have at least three staff members, while SMEs should have a minimum of 10 staff.
Applicants are expected to prepare and upload several documents during the application process.
These include:
This means applicants should ensure their business location is correct and operational because verification teams may visit the business address provided during registration.
Incorrect information or inability to verify the business may affect approval chances.
Interested applicants can apply through the official LSETF application portal apply.lsetf.ng.
Applicants are required to: