ABUJA, Nigeria — About 10 million Nigerians are expected to benefit directly and indirectly from the Federal Government’s ongoing poverty‑reduction initiatives, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has said.
Okay News reports that Bagudu made the disclosure during a weekend engagement with the National Councillors’ Forum of Nigeria (NCFN) in Abuja, where the forum also conferred on him the title of Grand Patron.
The NCFN, which represents all 8,809 serving councillors across the country’s local government areas, said the honour reflected Bagudu’s commitment to strengthening governance structures at the grassroots. In a letter dated April 23, 2026, and signed by its president, Honourable Abdulrazak Sama’ila, the forum praised the minister’s record in public service.
Bagudu explained that the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme is designed to identify and support economic activities in every ward by mapping dominant local enterprises and tailoring government interventions to their specific needs.
“This programme seeks to stimulate economic activity at the ward level by identifying dominant commercial endeavours and providing targeted support where it is most needed,” Bagudu said.
He noted that the initiative is expected to directly and indirectly impact about 10 million Nigerians, strengthening the broader poverty‑reduction drive and expanding access to economic opportunities at the grassroots.
The minister commended the councillors for their support of the Tinubu administration and said collaboration with grassroots leaders would remain central to translating national policies into tangible benefits.
