The Federal Government has launched five flagship programmes aimed at tackling poverty, addressing the rising cost of living, strengthening livelihoods and improving human capital development across Nigeria.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the World Bank-supported initiatives are designed to expand social protection, create economic opportunities and improve outcomes in health, education and governance for poor and vulnerable communities.

Bagudu said the programmes include the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Additional Financing (NG-CARES), the Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities Project (SOLID), and the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) initiative, comprising HOPE Governance, HOPE Primary Health Care and HOPE Education. He noted that their success requires the collective commitment of government at all levels and other stakeholders.

Also speaking, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Matthew Verghis, commended the Tinubu administration for introducing the initiatives, saying strong leadership and effective collaboration are essential to achieving their objectives. He urged state governments and development partners to work together in implementing the programmes.

Verghis further described the initiatives as an investment in Nigeria’s future and reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting the country and its partners in delivering measurable improvements that will positively impact the lives of millions of Nigerians.