President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate implementation of the National Construction and Household Support Programme to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy, and create opportunities in the real sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. This initiative aims to provide urgent economic relief for Nigerians and will cover all geo-political zones in the country.
A key focus of this program is the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will span Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos. Other significant road infrastructure projects, such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway, linking Enugu, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja, are also prioritized.
The President has also sanctioned full counterpart financing for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway, which will pass through Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and Borno. Similarly, the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway, traversing Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano, will receive full counterpart financing.
The Sokoto-Badagry road project is of particular importance due to its strategic role in the nation’s agricultural sustainability. This corridor encompasses 216 agricultural communities, 58 large and medium dams across six states, seven Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), 156 local government areas, 39 commercial cities and towns, and over 1 million hectares of arable land.
Key components of the National Construction and Household Support Programme include:
1. A one-time allocation of N10 billion to states and the Federal Capital Territory for the procurement of buses and the CNG uplift program.
2. Provision of a N50,000 uplift grant to 100,000 families per state for three months.
3. Support for labor unions and civil society organizations.
4. Deployment of N155 billion for the purchase and distribution of assorted foodstuffs nationwide.
At the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, President Tinubu urged state governors to collaborate in meeting the needs of citizens, assuring them of his support to alleviate hardship. Highlighting the urgency of increasing food production, the President underscored the importance of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, noting that the states within this axis form the nation’s food belt, with Badagry serving as a crucial route for food export.
“Our states must collaborate to implement the necessary reforms to meet our people’s needs. Time is humanity’s most precious asset, and it is getting late.
“We are ready and able to support you with mechanization of your agricultural processes and provision of high-quality seedlings.
“We are prepared to provide solar-powered irrigation facilities to support our farmers throughout the seasons, but we must produce. We must produce the food our people eat, requiring coordination and intentionality among National Economic Council (NEC) members.
“Producing high-quality food for our people to consume, buy, and sell is paramount. We create jobs in its production and generate wealth by exporting the excess. Achieving this for Nigerians is within our reach.
“Let me know the support you need from me and in what form. I am prepared to provide it. But we must achieve results. We must deliver on our targets at all levels. Please report back after your consultations and submit your findings to my office within seven days,” President Tinubu said.
