Tinubu approves ₦17bn for community health, sanitation projects across 8,804 wards
President Bola Tinubu has approved a ₦17 billion Community-Based National Social Action Fund aimed at accelerating grassroots development across Nigeria’s 8,804 political wards.
The initiative, announced in a statement on Wednesday by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is designed to support locally driven projects through verified community organisations and associations.
Under the programme, each ward is expected to identify and implement priority interventions tailored to local needs, ranging from healthcare support to education and sanitation improvements.
Government said the project builds on earlier reforms, including the creation of the Social Action Fund (SAF) in September 2023 and the Community-Based Procurement Platform approved in January 2026 to ease access for community groups handling projects worth up to ₦50 million.
According to the statement, implementation will run from March to December 2026, with a Programme Management Unit to be based in the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation have also been directed to release the approved ₦17 billion into a dedicated intervention account to cover execution, monitoring, communication and accountability.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the programme represents a major shift toward community-led 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 that directly improve livelihoods and strengthen service delivery where it matters most,” he said.
