ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-As part of efforts to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy, and provide immediate economic relief to Nigerian households, President Bola Tinubu has approved a National Construction and Household Support Programme.
The programme, endorsed by the National Economic Council (NEC), aims to allocate resources and infrastructure projects across all geo-political zones in the country, according to a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Thursday.
A key component of the programme is the approval of a N50,000 uplift grant, which will be distributed to 100,000 families per state for three months.
Additionally, N155 billion has been earmarked for the purchase and distribution of assorted foodstuff across the nation to address concerns about food security and affordability.
The programme also caters to infrastructure projects, including the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will traverse seven states and is considered key for agricultural sustainability.
Other infrastructure initiatives include the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway.
Furthermore, Tinubu approved full counterpart financing for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway and the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway.
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The NEC also allocated N10 billion to each state and the Federal Capital Territory for the procurement of buses and implementation of the Compressed natural gas uplift programme.
Provisions were also made for labour unions and civil society organizations. During the NEC meeting, Tinubu urged state governors to collaborate in meeting the needs of citizens and boosting food production in the country.
He emphasized the importance of producing high-quality food for local consumption, job creation, and wealth generation through export.
The President assured the governors of his support, requesting them to report back with their needs and proposals within seven days.
This comprehensive programme demonstrates the administration’s commitment to addressing economic challenges and improving the lives of Nigerian households and farmers.
He said, “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 mechanisation of your agricultural processes and the provision of high-quality seedlings.
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“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.”