President Bola Tinubu approved the National Construction and Household Support Programme during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja. Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale announced that the programme aims to enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy, and provide immediate economic relief to Nigerian households.
Ngelale stated that the NEC-supported programme includes financial allocations and infrastructure projects across all geo-political zones in the country. A significant component is the approval of a N50,000 uplift grant, to be distributed to 100,000 families per state for three months.
Additionally, Ngelale disclosed that N155 billion has been allocated for purchasing and distributing assorted foodstuffs nationwide to address food security and affordability concerns. The programme will also support infrastructure projects such as the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will span seven states and is vital for agricultural sustainability. The states along this axis are considered the nation’s food belt.
Other infrastructure projects include the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway. Tinubu also approved full counterpart financing for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway and the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway.
Moreover, Ngelale noted that the NEC approved N10 billion for each state and the Federal Capital Territory for procuring buses and implementing the Compressed Natural Gas Uplift Programme. Provisions were also made for labor unions and civil society organizations.
During the NEC meeting, Tinubu urged state governors to collaborate to meet citizens’ needs and boost food production. He emphasized the urgency of these reforms, stating, “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.”
He further assured support for mechanizing agricultural processes, providing high-quality seedlings, and offering solar-powered irrigation facilities. “We must produce the food our people eat, and it will require coordination and intentionality between members of the NEC,” Tinubu said. He highlighted the importance of producing high-quality food, creating jobs, and generating wealth through exports.
Tinubu asked the governors, “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.”