Elder Statesman Amadu Na-Funtua
Tinubu introduces a national program aimed at enhancing food security and imposes a seven-day deadline to boost agricultural productivity.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorized the immediate launch of the National Construction and Household Support Programme, covering all geopolitical zones in Nigeria, to bolster agricultural productivity and stimulate economic growth across agriculture, manufacturing, and construction sectors, while providing urgent economic relief for Nigerians.
In a statement on Thursday, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, highlighted the President’s decision, prioritizing infrastructure projects like the Sokoto-Badagry Highway across Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos, alongside initiatives such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway connecting Enugu, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja.
Ngelale noted Tinubu’s approval for full counterpart financing for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway spanning Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and Borno, as well as for the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway touching Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano.
The Sokoto-Badagry road project, deemed critical for agricultural sustainability, will traverse states pivotal to the nation’s food production, encompassing 216 agricultural communities, 58 large and medium dams, seven Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), 156 local government areas, 39 commercial cities and towns, and over 1 million hectares of arable land.
Tinubu Food Security
Under the National Construction and Household Support Programme, additional provisions include:
1. N10 billion one-off allocation to states and the Federal Capital Territory for bus procurement and the CNG uplift programme.
2. Delivery of N50,000 uplift grant to 100,000 families per state for three months.
3. Support for labour unions and civil society organizations.
4. Deployment of N155 billion for the purchase and distribution of assorted foodstuff nationwide.
Addressing the National Economic Council (NEC), Tinubu urged governors to collaborate effectively, stressing his readiness to provide necessary assistance to alleviate hardships faced by Nigerians.
Highlighting the urgency of enhancing food production, Tinubu emphasized the Sokoto-Badagry Highway’s strategic importance within the nation’s food belt, with Badagry serving as a critical route for food exports.
Tinubu stated, “Our states must unite to implement essential reforms that meet our people’s needs. Time is our most valuable asset. We must act promptly.
“We stand ready to support you with agricultural mechanization and high-quality seedlings. Solar-powered irrigation facilities will aid farmers year-round, but our focus must be on production. We must produce food for consumption, sale, and export, creating jobs and wealth for Nigerians.
“What support do you require from me, and how can I provide it? I am prepared to assist, but we must achieve our goals and report back within seven days.”
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