Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has launched a sweeping ₦17 billion community fund aimed at jumpstarting development in Nigeria’s 8,804 wards, putting local people at the centre of change and promising direct improvements in daily life across the country.
The initiative was announced in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The statement was signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations. Implementation will be through a newly established task force. This task force is designed to drive community-led interventions nationwide.
Each ward will partner with a verified community-based organisation to identify and implement projects that address local priorities.
“The initiative will deploy community-driven interventions tailored to local needs. Each ward will engage a verified community-based entity, organisation, or association to implement priority projects,” the statement said.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said the programme represents a shift toward decentralised development.
“This approach places communities at the centre of development. By enabling each ward to identify and implement its priority needs, we are unlocking practical solutions. These solutions directly improve livelihoods and strengthen service delivery where it matters most,” he said.
He added that the interventions address urgent grassroots needs across sectors.
“Interventions may include community nutrition support. They may also include the provision of essential health commodities such as micronutrients and therapeutic foods. Minor infrastructure improvements may occur in schools, health facilities, and sanitation systems,” Pate said.
The statement said the implementation will run from March to December 2026, with a Programme Management Unit, domiciled in the ministry’s Sector-Wide Approach Coordination Office, overseeing execution.
“To ensure effective implementation, the President has approved a project timeline. It will commence on March 1, 2026. Delivery is expected by December 2026,” the statement noted.
The Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation will manage the ring-fenced intervention account funding the initiative.
“The sum of ₦17 billion will be released into a ring-fenced special intervention account. This will support implementation, monitoring, communication, and accountability,” the statement added.
The task force will be chaired by the health minister. It will include key officials from finance, humanitarian services, procurement, and anti-corruption agencies.
The new fund builds on earlier reforms. These include the creation of the Social Action Fund in 2023 and the Community-Based Procurement Platform introduced in January 2026.
“The approval builds on earlier reforms. These were designed to simplify access for community organisations to deliver projects of up to ₦50 million,” the statement explained.
Nigeria continues to face development disparities across its wards, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
World Bank data shows many lack basic services, highlighting the need for decentralised, community-driven solutions.
Analysts say the initiative’s success will depend on robust monitoring systems and safeguards against misuse of funds.
Separately, the President approved upgrading the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre in Zaria to the National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases.
“The upgrade aims to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and rapid response,” the statement said.
The ministry stated that the institute will serve as a hub for research, training, and workforce development.
“The Institute will function as a multidisciplinary hub for public health training, research, and workforce development, improving readiness for infectious disease threats,” it added.
