President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says the Federal Government will accelerate the implementation of the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme in 2026, with plans to empower at least 1,000 people in each of Nigeria’s 8,809 wards and bring no fewer than 10 million Nigerians into productive economic activity.
The President disclosed this in his New Year goodwill message to Nigerians, which he personally signed and was shared by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, as citizens at home and abroad welcomed the New Year 2026. He described the year as the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth anchored on reforms already implemented and a renewed push for inclusive development.
According to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the ward-based programme is central to ensuring that economic growth delivers direct benefits at the grassroots. He said, “We will accelerate the implementation of the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, aiming to bring at least 10 million Nigerians into productive economic activity by empowering at least 1,000 people in each of the 8,809 wards across the country.”
The President explained that the programme is structured to stimulate local economies by supporting Nigerians to engage in productive work within their communities. He noted that empowering people at the ward level would help spread opportunities more evenly across the country and reduce overdependence on major urban centres for economic survival.
Tinubu said the initiative would focus on key sectors with strong potential for job creation and income generation. He stated, “Through agriculture, trade, food processing, and mining, we will stimulate local economies and expand grassroots opportunities,” adding that these sectors are critical to strengthening food security, boosting household earnings, and supporting small businesses nationwide.
The President also linked the success of the ward development programme to continued investment in infrastructure. He said the government would keep modernising roads, power, ports, railways, airports, pipelines, healthcare, education, and agricultural systems, stressing that all ongoing projects would continue without interruption to support productivity and access to markets.
He explained that the renewed focus on inclusive growth follows measurable economic progress recorded in 2025 despite global challenges. According to him, reforms implemented during the year, including a fiscal reset and improved monetary policy management, helped stabilise the economy and laid the foundation for expansion in 2026.
Tinubu further called on Nigerians to support the implementation of government programmes, noting that national development requires collective responsibility. He said citizens must stand together in unity and purpose, uphold patriotism, and serve the country with integrity to ensure that economic growth in 2026 translates into real improvements in livelihoods at the community level.
