President Tinubu Encourages Governors to Ensure Food Security; Approves National Construction and Household Support Programme
In a move to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy, and provide urgent economic relief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate rollout of the National Construction and Household Support Programme across all geo-political zones in Nigeria.
During the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, President Tinubu urged state governors to collaborate in meeting the needs of citizens, emphasizing his commitment to support their efforts in alleviating hardship.
The approved programme prioritizes key infrastructure projects, including the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will traverse through Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states. This project is critical as it connects strategic agricultural states, thus enhancing food security.
Other prioritized projects include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway, linking Enugu, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja. Additionally, President Tinubu has approved full counterpart financing for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway, covering Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and Borno states, as well as the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway.
The Sokoto-Badagry road project is highlighted for its importance, covering 216 agricultural communities, 58 dams, seven Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), 156 local government areas, 39 commercial cities, and over 1 million hectares of arable land.
The National Construction and Household Support Programme also includes:
- A one-off allocation to states and the Federal Capital Territory of N10 billion for bus procurement and the CNG uplift programme.
- Delivery of N50,000 uplift grants to 100,000 families per state for three months.
- Provision for labor unions and civil society organizations.
- Deployment of N155 billion for the purchase and distribution of assorted foodstuff nationwide.
Addressing the NEC, President Tinubu stressed the urgency of boosting food production and ensuring food security. He noted, “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 added, “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).”
President Tinubu called on the governors to report back within seven days following consultations, stating, “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.”
