President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a ₦17 billion community-led development fund designed to support 8,804 wards across Nigeria.

This initiative, aimed at driving grassroots development, will be managed through a newly established Community-Based National Social Action Fund Taskforce. The program is set to be implemented between March and December 2026.

According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, each of the 8,804 wards will collaborate with verified community-based organizations to identify and execute projects that address their specific local needs. The fund builds upon previous reforms, including the 2023 Social Action Fund and the Community-Based Procurement Platform, which previously allowed community groups to implement projects worth up to ₦50 million.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, highlighted that this shift toward community-driven service delivery places local populations at the heart of development. The intervention aims to improve livelihoods and service delivery through projects such as community nutrition support, the provision of essential health commodities (including micronutrients and therapeutic foods), and minor infrastructure upgrades for schools, health facilities, and sanitation systems.

To ensure accountability and effective implementation, a Programme Management Unit will be housed within the Sector-Wide Approach Coordination Office of the Health Ministry.

Furthermore, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation have been directed to release the ₦17 billion into a dedicated account for the taskforce, which will be chaired by the Minister of Health. The taskforce will also include representatives from the ministries of Finance and Humanitarian Affairs, the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Budget Office, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In a related development, President Tinubu has also approved the upgrade of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre (NTBLTC) in Zaria to the National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases. This upgrade is intended to bolster the country’s capacity for disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and response, establishing a multidisciplinary hub for public health training, research, and workforce development to better manage future infectious disease threats.