President Bola Tinubu has introduced the National Construction and Household Support Programme, an initiative designed to enhance Nigeria’s agricultural productivity, fortify the economy, and provide immediate economic relief to households across the nation.
This approval came during the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
The presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced that the NEC backed the programme, which encompasses financial allocations and various infrastructure projects distributed across all geo-political zones of Nigeria. The plan includes significant financial measures, such as the N50,000 uplift grant, which will be given to 100,000 families per state over a period of three months.
To tackle food security and affordability issues, Ngelale revealed that N155 billion has been allocated for the purchase and distribution of assorted foodstuffs nationwide. Additionally, the programme includes crucial infrastructure projects like the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will span seven states, vital for agricultural sustainability as these regions constitute the nation’s food belt.
Other notable infrastructure initiatives under this programme are the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway. Furthermore, 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.
The NEC has also sanctioned a N10 billion allocation to each state and the Federal Capital Territory. This funding is intended for procuring buses and implementing the Compressed Natural Gas uplift programme, demonstrating the government’s commitment to improving public transportation and energy efficiency.
Provisions have also been made for labour unions and civil society organizations to ensure broad-based support and participation in these initiatives. During the NEC meeting, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of state governors collaborating to meet the needs of citizens and boost food production across the country.
He stated, “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 the mechanization of your agricultural processes and the provision of 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.”
