Tinubu Approves N50,000 Grant, N155bn Food Support for Families

President Bola Tinubu has greenlit the National Construction and Household Support Programme, aiming to enhance agricultural productivity, bolster the economy, and provide immediate relief to Nigerian households. This announcement was made during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held on Thursday in Abuja.

Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale detailed the programme’s objectives and scope. He mentioned that the NEC-backed initiative includes financial allocations and infrastructure projects across all geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

A major aspect of the programme is the approval of a N50,000 uplift grant, set to be distributed to 100,000 families per state over three months. “This grant will provide much-needed financial support to families across the nation,” Ngelale stated.

Additionally, N155 billion has been allocated for the purchase and distribution of assorted foodstuffs nationwide to address food security and affordability concerns. “This measure is crucial to ensure that all Nigerians have access to affordable food,” he added.

Infrastructure development forms a key component of the programme, with notable projects such as the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which spans seven states and is vital for agricultural sustainability. “The states along this route are the food belt of the nation,” Ngelale noted. Other significant projects include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway.

President Tinubu also approved full counterpart financing for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway and the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway, further enhancing the nation’s transportation infrastructure.

Furthermore, Ngelale announced the allocation of N10 billion to each state and the Federal Capital Territory for procuring buses and implementing the Compressed Natural Gas uplift programme. This initiative aims to improve public transportation and reduce carbon emissions.

During the NEC meeting, Tinubu urged state governors to collaborate in addressing citizens’ needs and boosting food production. He emphasized the importance of timely action, stating, “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 assured support for agricultural mechanization and the provision of high-quality seedlings, adding, “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).”

The programme also includes provisions for labor unions and civil society organizations, ensuring a detailed approach to economic and social support across the nation.