Ending Poverty? - President Tinubu Unveils Ambitious Grassroots Development Plan to Spur Economic Growth in All 8,809 Wards

 

A nationwide initiative designed to transform Nigeria’s rural landscape has been unveiled by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, signaling a renewed push to tackle poverty and stimulate economic productivity at the grassroots level.

The programme, formally known as the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP), was adopted at the 150th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, which took place at the State House in Abuja. This marks a major step under President Tinubu’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda, a framework focused on achieving a $1 trillion economy by the year 2030.

President Tinubu, addressing the assembly of state governors and key policymakers, emphasized the urgent need to ensure that the most underserved Nigerians experience the benefits of national progress. His call to action placed strong emphasis on rural communities as the backbone of sustainable national development.

“We must change the story of our people in the rural areas,” Tinubu stated. “The economy is working; we are on the path of recovery, but we need to stimulate growth in the rural areas.”

Through the RHWDP, the government intends to inject coordinated interventions into Nigeria’s 8,809 political wards, directly impacting communities through poverty reduction strategies, increased food security, improved access to infrastructure and energy, and expanded employment opportunities. Each ward is expected to support between 1,000 and 2,000 economic activities depending on its demographic and geographic size.

This move, according to government sources, is not a standalone gesture but a core strategy tied to the administration’s economic ambitions. It reflects a deliberate shift toward bottom-up development models that prioritize inclusivity and local relevance. Experts believe this approach, if well-implemented, could significantly close the urban-rural development gap that has plagued Nigeria’s growth for decades.

The programme’s design and implementation will be overseen by a National Steering Committee, ensuring a structured and accountable process. The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has been designated as the secretariat and will coordinate intergovernmental efforts at federal, state, and local levels.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, delivered a comprehensive presentation of the programme to the Council, highlighting its potential to serve as a catalyst for economic activity at the local level. Bagudu noted that this collaborative model brings all three tiers of government into one strategic framework, enabling seamless delivery and better alignment with local needs.

As part of the reforms tied to this programme, President Tinubu also announced a notable administrative change, the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation will now operate directly under the presidency. This move is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of land and resource mapping, a key requirement for executing infrastructure and agricultural initiatives at the grassroots level.

Another crucial component tied to the RHWDP is the expansion of the national school feeding programme. This initiative, which aims to boost school enrolment and tackle child poverty, will be scaled up to reach more children, especially in rural communities. By addressing the dual challenges of education access and child nutrition, the administration hopes to secure long-term developmental gains.

The strategic thrust of the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme reflects Tinubu’s broader philosophy of inclusive governance and economic decentralization. Rather than concentrating development in urban hubs, the administration appears focused on dispersing economic growth across Nigeria’s diverse communities.

Several development experts and state officials have praised the initiative as a timely intervention. For many, it reflects a significant policy shift that values direct, grassroots engagement over top-down directives. The programme, once fully operational, is expected to generate millions of jobs and create thriving local economies that feed into national productivity.

Critics, however, have urged the government to ensure that the ambitious plan does not become mired in bureaucratic bottlenecks or fall victim to weak oversight. There are also calls for transparency in the selection and funding of ward-level projects to avoid regional imbalance or political favoritism.

Despite the challenges ahead, the programme has opened a new chapter in Nigeria’s development journey. With firm presidential backing, high-level coordination, and active state participation, the RHWDP may well become one of the defining legacies of the Tinubu administration. For communities long neglected in the national conversation, this initiative offers a tangible promise of renewal, opportunity, and hope.