Tinubu Urges Governors to Invest in Poverty Eradication, Power and Agriculture
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on state governors to deepen their commitment to grassroots development by investing more in poverty eradication, rural electrification, agricultural mechanisation, and critical infrastructure.
The President made the call on Thursday while addressing the 150th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja. The meeting saw the endorsement of a new ward-based intervention strategy aimed at boosting social protection and accelerating economic growth from the ground up.
The initiative, known as the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP), is designed to target Nigeria’s 8,809 administrative wards across the 36 states. It seeks to stimulate inclusive growth and drive Nigeria toward double-digit economic expansion as part of Tinubu’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I want to appeal to you; let us change the story of our people in the rural areas,” President Tinubu said. “The economy is working. We are on the path of recovery, but we need to stimulate growth in the rural areas. Let us collaborate and do what will benefit the people.”
He also stressed the need for governors to align their development efforts with the Federal Government’s goals, particularly in areas such as mechanised agriculture, school feeding to boost enrolment, and national infrastructure.
As part of efforts to streamline execution of key infrastructure initiatives, President Tinubu ordered the immediate transfer of the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation to the presidency. This, he said, would support the seamless implementation of major projects like the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry Super Highways.
The RHWDP was presented to the council by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. The programme is grounded in constitutional provisions and policy directives mandating the state to ensure food security and improved economic production across wards.
Among its targets are:
Supporting a minimum of 1,000 economically active individuals per smaller ward
Reaching at least 2,000 people in larger wards
Driving a 15% annual growth rate to meet the administration’s goal of a $1 trillion economy by 2030
A National Steering Committee, composed of representatives from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, will oversee the programme, with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning serving as the secretariat.
In a separate presentation, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, briefed the council on impending flooding concerns. Following this, NEC directed states to strengthen their respective State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), while also instructing the Federal Ministry of Finance to release emergency funds to support early response measures.
The NEC meeting was attended by governors, ministers, and other top government officials committed to steering Nigeria’s economic revival through inclusive, ward-level development.
