During the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu gave his approval for the National Construction and Household Support Programme.
The program aims to enhance agricultural productivity, bolster the economy, and offer immediate economic assistance to households in Nigeria, as stated in a press release by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale.
It was supported by the NEC and the program encompasses financial allocations and infrastructure projects across all geopolitical zones in the country.
A significant aspect of the program is the endorsement of a N50,000 uplift grant to be distributed to 100,000 families per state for a duration of three months.
Ngelale disclosed that an additional N155 billion has been allocated for acquiring and distributing various food items nationwide, with the aim of addressing concerns regarding food security and affordability.
He further revealed that the program will also cover infrastructure initiatives, such as the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will pass through seven states and is deemed crucial for ensuring agricultural sustainability.
Additionally, he noted that the states along this route form the nation’s food belt. Apart from the aforementioned projects, Tinubu also gave his approval for other infrastructure endeavors, including the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway.
Notably, full counterpart financing was approved for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway and the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway. Additionally, Ngelale stated that the NEC sanctioned the allocation of N10 billion to each state and the Federal Capital Territory for the procurement of buses and the implementation of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) uplift program.
The presidential spokesman also mentioned that provisions were made for labor unions and civil society organizations as part of the program. During the NEC meeting, Tinubu called on state governors to work together to address the needs of the people and enhance food production within 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 (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,” he added.
