President Bola Tinubu has greenlit the immediate implementation of the National Construction and Household Support Programme, set to encompass all six geo-political zones of Nigeria. 

This significant initiative aims to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy by creating opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, and provide urgent economic relief to Nigerians.

The announcement was made by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, through a press release on Thursday. According to Ngelale, the programme will prioritize the construction of critical infrastructure, such as the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will pass through Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos. This highway is deemed crucial due to its strategic importance to the agricultural sustainability of the nation.

The Sokoto-Badagry Highway corridor is home to 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 one million hectares of arable land. This infrastructure project is expected to significantly enhance agricultural productivity and economic activity in the region.

In addition to the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, other critical infrastructure projects include the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway, linking Enugu, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja. 

Furthermore, President Tinubu has approved full counterpart financing for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway, which will traverse Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and Borno, as well as the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway, passing through Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano.

The National Construction and Household Support Programme also includes several other components aimed at providing direct economic relief and support:

– A one-off allocation of N10 billion to each state and the Federal Capital Territory for the procurement of buses and the CNG uplift programme.

– Delivery of a N50,000 uplift grant 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 foodstuffs across the nation.

These measures are designed to provide immediate relief to citizens, stimulate local economies, and address food security concerns. President Tinubu emphasized the importance of these initiatives, calling on state governors to collaborate with federal authorities to ensure their effective implementation.

“The approval of the National Construction and Household Support Programme is a pivotal step in our efforts to alleviate economic hardship and foster sustainable growth,” President Tinubu stated. “We are committed to supporting Nigerians through these challenging times and building a resilient economy.”

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