President Bola Tinubu has announced the immediate implementation of the National Construction and Household Support Programme to bolster agricultural productivity, stimulate the economy, and provide urgent relief to Nigerians, .
This extensive initiative aims to cover all geo-political zones in the country, promoting opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction sectors.
A key component of the programme is the prioritization of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will span Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states. This highway is particularly significant due to its role in supporting agricultural sustainability across these regions.
Additional prioritized infrastructure projects include the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway, which will connect Enugu, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja.
President Tinubu has also approved full counterpart financing for two critical railway projects: the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway, traversing Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and Borno, and the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway, covering Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano.
The Sokoto-Badagry road project is especially prioritized due to its strategic importance. This corridor encompasses 216 agricultural communities, 58 large and medium dams, seven Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), 156 local government areas, 39 commercial cities and towns, and over 1 million hectares of arable land.
Under the National Construction and Household Support Programme, additional measures include:
1. A one-off allocation of N10 billion to states and the Federal Capital Territory for the procurement of buses and the CNG uplift programme.
2. Delivery of a N50,000 uplift grant to 100,000 families per state for three months.
3. Provisions for labor unions and civil society organizations.
4. Deployment of N155 billion for the purchase and sale of assorted foodstuffs to be distributed nationwide.
During the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja, President Tinubu emphasized the critical need for state governors to collaborate in meeting the needs of citizens. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing necessary support to alleviate hardships faced by Nigerians.
Highlighting the urgency of boosting food production, President Tinubu stressed the pivotal role of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, noting its importance as the states within this axis form the food belt of the nation and Badagry serves as a vital artery for food export.
“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,” President Tinubu stated.
“We are ready and able to support you in 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,” President Tinubu urged the governors.
This ambitious initiative reflects the government’s commitment to addressing food security and economic stability, promising a significant impact on the lives of Nigerians across the nation.
