President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged state governors to step up investments in rural electrification, agriculture, poverty alleviation, and infrastructure, saying Nigeria’s economic recovery must begin at the grassroots.
Speaking Thursday at the 150th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu declared: “Let’s change the story of our people in rural areas. The economy is working, but we must stimulate growth where it matters most.”
The President’s charge followed a presentation by Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, on the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP) — a new federal initiative aimed at unlocking double-digit economic growth through targeted development across Nigeria’s 8,809 administrative wards.
In a statement made available to The News Chronicle, NEC, comprising the 36 state governors and key federal ministers, endorsed the ward-based plan, describing it as a joint effort by federal, state, and local governments to lift millions out of poverty and achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
The RHWDP, which forms a core part of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, targets economic activation of at least 1,000 individuals in smaller wards and 2,000 in larger ones. A National Steering Committee, with representatives from all six geopolitical zones, will oversee its rollout. The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning will serve as the secretariat.
To fast-track key legacy projects, Tinubu directed NEC to form a special implementation committee, with priority given to the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry Superhighways. He also ordered the transfer of the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation to the Presidency to remove bottlenecks in project execution.
Meanwhile, NEC has approved the release of emergency funds to states and federal agencies to tackle looming flood threats.
The resolution followed a presentation by the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, on the country’s 2025 flood preparedness efforts.
Umar highlighted progress made since 2024, including the development of a National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2024–2027), partnerships with the military and civil agencies, and early warning dissemination to communities nationwide.
However, she warned of persistent challenges, including poor drainage systems, weak emergency structures at state and local levels, insecurity, and non-compliance with urban planning laws.
To address this, NEC directed:
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Immediate strengthening of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs),
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Activation of Local Emergency Committees in flood-prone areas,
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Strict enforcement of building and sanitation codes,
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Community-led risk awareness campaigns.
The Emergency Operations Centre, activated since May 29, is now fully operational, with equipment deployed to high-risk zones.
Tinubu and NEC urged all tiers of government to prioritise disaster preparedness and ensure timely release of funds for risk mitigation.
