NEC Endorses Ward-Based Development Strategy, Approves Flood Mitigation Funds
President Bola Tinubu has called on state governors to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians, especially at the grassroots, by channelling more resources into poverty eradication, rural electrification, agricultural mechanisation, and infrastructure development.
Speaking at the 150th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday in Abuja, the President urged governors to collaborate with the Federal Government to stimulate growth in rural communities and fast-track Nigeria’s economic recovery.
“I want to appeal to you; let us change the story of our people in the rural areas. The economy is working. We are on the path of recovery, but we need to stimulate growth in the rural areas,” Tinubu said.
The President emphasised the need for state-level investments in school feeding to boost enrolment and called for renewed efforts in tackling insecurity to make agricultural mechanisation viable.
Following a presentation on the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP) by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, NEC unanimously endorsed the programme as a grassroots-focused development framework.
Ward-Based Programme to Drive Economic Growth
The RHWDP aims to accelerate economic growth through targeted investments in Nigeria’s 8,809 administrative wards. It seeks to engage a minimum of 1,000 economically active individuals per small ward and up to 2,000 in larger wards.
The strategy aligns with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s vision of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030. It will be overseen by a National Steering Committee with representation from all six geopolitical zones and coordinated by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
The programme draws its authority from the 1999 Constitution and the Fifth Alteration Act, mandating government policy towards food security and improved production systems.
Surveyor-General’s Office Moved to Presidency
In a bid to fast-track legacy infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry Super Highways, President Tinubu directed the transfer of the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation to the Presidency. He also instructed NEC to form a special committee to oversee the implementation of these projects.
Flood Preparedness: States to Receive Emergency Funds
The council also addressed looming environmental risks, directing the immediate strengthening of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Following a presentation by NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar, the Federal Ministry of Finance was ordered to release emergency funds for flood preparedness and mitigation.
NEMA reported on its ongoing efforts to reduce disaster risks, including the development of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2024–2027), hazard risk mapping, and the establishment of Local Emergency Management Committees in flood-prone areas.
However, challenges remain, such as poor drainage systems, delayed data sharing, non-functional SEMAs in some states, and poor urban planning enforcement. The council urged states to institutionalise monthly sanitation, enforce planning laws, and prioritise emergency funding in their budgets.
Local governments and communities were also called upon to take greater responsibility in flood risk reduction through awareness campaigns and timely reporting of risk indicators.