- Launches national construction and household support programme
In a decisive move to enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy, and provide urgent economic relief for Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate rollout of the National Construction and Household Support Programme. This initiative will cover all geopolitical zones in the country.
According to Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the programme prioritizes the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will traverse Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos. Additionally, major road infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway, connecting multiple states, are also high on the agenda.
President Tinubu has approved full counterpart financing for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway and the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway, which will traverse numerous states, enhancing connectivity and economic activity.
The Sokoto-Badagry road project is highlighted for its strategic importance, passing through key agricultural regions. This corridor includes 216 agricultural communities, 58 large and medium dams, seven Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), 156 local government areas, 39 commercial cities and towns, and over 1 million hectares of arable land.
Additional components of the National Construction and Household Support Programme include:
- One-off allocation of N10 billion to states and the Federal Capital Territory for bus procurement and CNG uplift programme.
- Delivery of N50,000 uplift grants to 100,000 families per state for three months.
- Provision for labour unions and civil society organizations.
- Deployment of N155 billion for the purchase and distribution of assorted foodstuffs nationwide.
During the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja, President Tinubu urged state governors to collaborate in addressing the needs of citizens, emphasizing his readiness to support initiatives that alleviate hardship. He stressed the urgency of boosting food production, noting the importance of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway as a vital food export artery.
“Our states must work together to deliver on the critical reforms required of us to meet the needs of our people. Time is humanity’s most precious asset. You can never have enough of it. It is getting late.
“We are ready and able to support you in the form of mechanizing agricultural processes and providing high-quality seedlings. We are prepared to provide solar-powered irrigation facilities to support our farmers across seasons, but we must now produce. We must produce the food our people eat, and it will require coordination and intentionality between members of the National Economic Council (NEC).
“There is nothing we are doing that is more important than producing high-quality food for our people to consume, buy, and sell. We create jobs in the production of it. And that is before we generate wealth by exporting the excess. It is not beyond us to achieve this for Nigerians.
“How much support do you need from me and in what form? I am prepared to provide it. But we must achieve the result. We must deliver on our targets at all levels. Please report back following your consultations and submit to my office within seven days,” President Tinubu said.
