President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigeria’s state governors to prioritize grassroots development by investing in rural electrification, agricultural mechanisation, poverty eradication, and infrastructure.
Speaking at the 150th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, Tinubu stressed the need for collaboration across federal, state, and local levels to stimulate economic recovery and long-term growth.
The Council endorsed the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP), a strategic initiative designed to drive direct intervention across the country’s 8,809 wards, supporting the broader ambition of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
The programme sets actionable targets for economic activity and is backed by the 1999 Constitution and Fifth Alteration Act.
To fast-track critical infrastructure, Tinubu ordered the relocation of the Office of the Surveyor-General to the Presidency, enabling more seamless coordination of legacy projects, including the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry Super Highways.
According to reports, a National Steering Committee – coordinated by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning – will oversee implementation.
NEC also resolved to strengthen State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) nationwide, directing the Federal Ministry of Finance to release emergency funding in anticipation of flood-related risks.
This decision followed a presentation by Zubaida Umar, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The President reaffirmed his commitment to social investment and security, calling for improved school enrolment through feeding programmes and greater agricultural mechanisation. “Let us change the story of our people in the rural areas,” he declared.
