President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched the National Construction and Household Support Programme, as announced at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson, revealed this development in a press release on the same day.
According to Ngelale, the initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity, fortify the economy, and offer immediate financial relief to Nigerian households.
The programme, which received NEC’s endorsement, includes financial distributions and infrastructure projects spanning all geopolitical zones of the country.
A significant feature of the programme is the N50,000 uplift grant, set to be distributed to 100,000 families per state for a duration of three months.
Additionally, Ngelale mentioned that N155 billion has been allocated for purchasing and distributing various food items nationwide, addressing issues of food security and cost.
The programme also covers infrastructure projects such as the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will pass through seven states and is vital for agricultural sustainability. These states are part of the nation’s food production belt.
Other key infrastructure projects include the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway. Tinubu also authorized full counterpart funding for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway and the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway.
Furthermore, the NEC approved a N10 billion allocation for each state and the Federal Capital Territory to purchase buses and implement the Compressed Natural Gas uplift programme.
Provisions for labor unions and civil society organizations were also included in the programme, according to the presidential spokesperson.
During the NEC meeting, Tinubu encouraged state governors to collaborate to address citizens’ needs and increase food production.
He stated, “Our states must work together to deliver on the critical reforms required to meet our people’s needs. Time is humanity’s most precious asset, and we must act swiftly.
“We are ready and able to support you with mechanized agricultural processes and high-quality seedlings.
“We are prepared to provide solar-powered irrigation facilities to support our farmers across seasons. We must now produce the food our people eat, which requires coordination and intentionality among NEC members.”