President Bola Tinubu has called on state governors to scale up investments in poverty eradication, rural electrification, agricultural mechanisation, and infrastructure, stressing that grassroots development must form the backbone of Nigeria’s economic transformation.
The president made the call during the 150th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the State House Council Chambers, Abuja, after a briefing on the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP) by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
The RHWDP, one of the flagship initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, seeks to stimulate double-digit economic growth by delivering direct interventions across Nigeria’s 8,809 administrative wards in all 36 states and the FCT.
The programme is designed to ensure that economic recovery translates into visible development at the grassroots, targeting the most underserved communities with priority investments in basic infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihood support.
Tinubu underscored the urgency of bridging the rural–urban development gap, noting that while macroeconomic indicators are showing signs of improvement, sustainable recovery depends on empowering rural communities.
“I want to appeal to you: let us change the story of our people in the rural areas,” the president urged.
“The economy is working. We are on the path of recovery, but we need to stimulate growth in the rural areas. We know the situation there; let us collaborate and do what will benefit the people.”
By directing governors to intensify efforts at the grassroots, Tinubu highlighted the central role of states in driving inclusive economic growth.
He emphasised that rural electrification, mechanised farming, and infrastructure upgrades are not just welfare measures, but strategic drivers of productivity, job creation, and national stability.
The president’s message reinforced the federal government’s commitment to ensuring that recovery gains under his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda extend beyond Nigeria’s urban centres to the most remote wards, leaving no community behind.
