The Federal Government has launched a sweeping initiative to fuel grassroots economic growth, pledging to map and activate every one of Nigeria’s 8,809 local government wards under the new “Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme” (RHWDP).
Speaking in Abuja, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, confirmed the programme has been backed by the National Economic Council and will be coordinated across federal, state and local government levels.
“We are mapping all 8,809 wards of the country because each has unique opportunities and potentials… what is done there will deliver value for the nation,” Bagudu said.
Under the scheme, each ward will identify local economic assets and support a minimum number of active participants, for example, at least 1,000 economically active citizens per ward aimed at generating jobs, boosting productivity and reducing poverty.
The RHWDP is framed as a strategic follow-through of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”, which targets a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Bagudu emphasized that the new ward-level focus is a critical shift from macro-level reforms to direct community impact.
“This is about creating sustainable and inclusive growth from the grassroots…” he noted.
Key objectives include
Stimulating local job creation and entrepreneurship.
Mapping localized economic opportunities at ward level.
Aligning federal, state and local policy efforts to avoid duplication and ensure accountability.
Drawing on proven global models (e.g., India, China, Kenya) while customizing them to Nigeria’s federal context.
The government says the programme is still in its early rollout phase, with technical mapping underway and supporting frameworks being established. A national steering committee is set to be convened to oversee implementation and monitoring.
With this initiative, Nigeria is signalling a new phase of growth, one that shifts from high-level reform headlines to tangible economic transformation starting at the ward level.
