Tinubu launches national construction and household support programme to boost agriculture

President Bola Tinubu has rolled out the national construction and household support programme to boost agricultural and manufacturing activities in the country.

In a statement on Thursday, Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, said the programme is designed to strengthen the economy by creating opportunities in the real sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, as well as provide urgent economic relief for Nigerians.

The presidential spokesperson said Tinubu spoke at the national economic council (NEC) meeting, attended by governors of the 36 states of the federation and some ministers.

Under the programme, Ngelale said the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will traverse Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos, is prioritised.

“The Sokoto-Badagry road project is specially prioritised for its importance as some of the states it will traverse are strategic to the agricultural sustainability of the nation,” the statement reads.

“Within the Sokoto-Badagry Highway corridor, there are 216 agricultural communities, 58 large and medium dams spread across six states, seven Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), 156 local government areas, 39 commercial cities and towns, and over 1 million hectares of arable land.

“In addition, other items under the National Construction and Household Support Programme include (1) a one-off allocation to states and the Federal Capital Territory of N10 billion for the procurement of buses and the CNG uplift programme.

“(2) Delivery of a N50,000 uplift grant each to 100,000 families per state for three (3) months. (3) Provision for labour unions and civil society organizations.

“(4) Deployment of N155 billion for the purchase and sale of assorted foodstuffs to be distributed across the nation.”

The presidential spokesperson quoted the president as saying that the Sokoto-Badagry highway is a pivotal project which would lead to food exports.

“There is nothing we are doing that is more important than producing high-quality food for our people to consume, buy, and sell. We create jobs in the production of it,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.

“And that is before we generate wealth by exporting the excess. It is not beyond us to achieve this for Nigerians.

“How much support do you need from me, and in what form? I am prepared to provide it. But we must achieve the result. We must deliver on our targets at all levels.

“Please report back following your consultations and submit them to my office within seven days.”