Inside FG’s Plan To Deliver Reform Gains To 8,809 Wards Nationwide

…Edun: Households, Artisans, Small Biz Owners Targeted

By Franklin Adole

The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to translate Nigeria’s recent economic reforms into tangible benefits for citizens through a ward-based development initiative designed to reach the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians. The programme, endorsed by President Bola Tinubu and approved by the National Economic Council, will operate across all 8,809 wards of the federation.

This announcement was made by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, during a panel discussion at the World Bank’s presentation of the Nigeria Development Update Report (October 2025) in Abuja on Wednesday. The report, titled “From Policy to People: Bringing the Reforms Gains Home,” focused on the need to convert macroeconomic stability into improved living standards for Nigerians.

Edun said the government’s ongoing reforms were yielding results, as recognised in the World Bank report, but acknowledged that the key challenge now was ensuring that those gains reached ordinary citizens. “In terms of bringing the reform gains home, the National Economic Council has approved a ward-based development programme across 8,809 wards,” he said. “The initiative will identify economically active individuals in each ward and provide them with financial assistance, resources, training, and access to development partners. That is where the connection will be—to make sure all Nigerians get a chance to participate in the growing, stable, and positive trajectory of the Nigerian economy.”

The minister explained that the programme, which aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, would directly support low-income households, artisans, and small business owners. He added that the government’s social safety net programme had already reached 10 million households as of October and was on course to cover 15 million households by the end of 2025. “The government is determined to ensure that no one is left behind as we consolidate the gains of economic reforms,” Edun said.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, who was represented by Deputy Governor for Financial System Stability, Phillip Ikeazor, commended the World Bank for acknowledging government efforts to curb inflation. He said that as inflation continues to decline, borrowing costs are expected to ease, stimulating credit growth and economic activity. “When inflation drops, interest rates will follow, making loans more accessible for banks and customers. This will stimulate private-sector participation and overall economic expansion,” he explained.

Cardoso also noted that stronger collaboration between the fiscal and monetary authorities was improving access to finance, citing ongoing fintech innovation and the recapitalisation of banks as key drivers of credit expansion. “Fintech platforms are expanding credit access, open banking is enabling better consumer lending products, and the recapitalisation programme is strengthening banks’ capacity to lend,” he said.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who also spoke at the event, said his administration was aligning with the federal government’s development objectives by prioritising human capital development. He explained that the state had established a skill acquisition centre accredited by major organisations and trained over 8,000 people in various trades. “We are focusing on skill acquisition and entrepreneurship as the foundation for sustainable growth,” Sule said.

He added that the state government had issued an executive order requiring mining companies to process minerals within the state, thereby boosting local value addition and creating jobs. “We are also promoting agriculture and infrastructure development, including bridge construction, to empower the local population, promote economic independence, and reduce dependence on government jobs,” he said.

In his contribution, the Managing Director of Sundry Markets Ltd, Mr. Ebele Enunwa, said Nigeria’s reform momentum was already driving local productivity and self-reliance. “We are beginning to see more Nigerian-made products in our markets,” he said. “We cannot continue to be a mono-product economy. We must build capacity across different sectors so that we can be self-sufficient, generate our own foreign currency, and begin to see the real gains of reform.”