- Tinubu Approves Ward-Level Projects to Improve Health, Education, Sanitation
- Approves ₦17bn Fund for Grassroots Development Across 8,804 Wards
- Upgrades Zaria Health Centre
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a ₦17 billion community-led development fund aimed at driving grassroots projects across Nigeria’s 8,804 wards.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the initiative, to be executed through a newly created Community-Based National Social Action Fund Taskforce, will allow each ward to identify its most pressing needs and carry out projects through verified community-based organisations.
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In a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the government said the funds would be kept in a ring-fenced account to ensure transparency and proper use.
Speaking on the programme, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the initiative is designed to put communities in control of their own development.
“This approach places communities at the centre of development. By allowing each ward to identify and execute its priorities, we are unlocking practical solutions that directly improve livelihoods and service delivery,” he said.
According to Pate, the interventions will cover key sectors such as health, nutrition, education, and sanitation. This includes support for nutrition programmes, provision of essential health supplies like micronutrients and therapeutic foods, as well as small-scale upgrades to schools, healthcare facilities, and sanitation systems.
The programme officially began on March 1, 2026, and is expected to run until December 2026. A Programme Management Unit within the ministry will coordinate its implementation.
The statement, signed by Ado Bako, also noted that the taskforce will be chaired by Pate and include top officials such as ministers of finance and humanitarian affairs, alongside representatives from key agencies like the Bureau of Public Procurement, Budget Office, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The minister said the inclusion of oversight institutions is intentional, to ensure accountability and measurable impact at the community level.
In a related move, President Tinubu also approved the upgrade of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre into the National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases.
The ministry explained that the upgrade will strengthen Nigeria’s ability to monitor diseases, respond to outbreaks, and train public health professionals.
“The institute will serve as a hub for research, training, and workforce development, improving the country’s readiness to manage infectious diseases,” Pate added.
The government said both approvals align with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on improving public health and accelerating development at the grassroots level.
