President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on state governors to intensify their efforts in improving the lives of Nigerians by investing in critical areas such as rural electrification, modern agricultural practices, poverty reduction initiatives, and essential infrastructure development.
Speaking on Thursday during the 150th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), President Tinubu emphasized the need for proactive steps to uplift rural communities and boost the national economy through inclusive development.
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During the session, the NEC formally adopted a new grassroots-focused development initiative—the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP)—which is designed to drive double-digit economic growth by targeting all 8,809 administrative wards across the 36 states of the federation.
The President’s appeal to the governors followed a comprehensive briefing on the RHWDP by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
The presentation detailed the strategy’s implementation roadmap and its expected impact on local economic activity.
In his address to the governors, President Tinubu underscored the importance of targeted development at the grassroots level, stating, “I want to appeal to you; let us change the story of our people in the rural areas. The economy is working. We are on the path of recovery, but we need to stimulate growth in the rural areas. We know the situation in the rural areas, let us collaborate and do what will benefit the people.”
He urged collaboration between federal and state governments to tackle rural challenges and promote growth through mechanised agriculture, enhanced security, and improved access to education via feeding programmes.
“We have to embrace mechanisation in agriculture, fight insecurity, and improve school enrolment through school feeding,” Tinubu noted.
To fast-track major national infrastructure projects, the President directed the NEC to constitute a committee that would focus on delivering key legacy projects, including the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry Super Highways.
In addition, Tinubu announced the transfer of the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation to the Presidency. This move, he said, would streamline planning and implementation processes for vital projects across the country.
The RHWDP, fully supported by the Council, represents a joint initiative involving the federal, state, and local governments. It aligns with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to position Nigeria’s economy at $1 trillion by 2030, requiring an ambitious annual growth rate of 15%—significantly higher than the current sub-4% rate.
Grounded in the constitutional provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Fifth Alteration Act, the RHWDP commits public policy to improving food security and advancing production technologies. The programme sets specific participation targets, aiming to engage at least 1,000 economically active individuals in smaller wards and up to 2,000 in larger wards.
A National Steering Committee with representation from all six geopolitical zones will supervise implementation, while the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning will serve as the administrative secretariat.
In a separate resolution, the NEC emphasized the need to strengthen State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) nationwide. It instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to expedite the release of emergency funding to mitigate the anticipated impact of flooding in vulnerable areas.
This directive followed a briefing by Mrs. Zubaida Umar, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), who highlighted the urgent need for preemptive action ahead of the expected flood season.
