Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has described the newly published 560-page Compendium by the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs (FMS&IGA) as a landmark achievement in promoting accountability, transparency, and effective service delivery in the implementation of Constituency and Zonal Intervention Projects across the country.
Speaking at the launch of the compendium titled “Actualising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda Through the Implementation of Constituency Projects” at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, Senator Tinubu said the publication underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that development initiatives reach communities and positively impact the lives of citizens.
Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady noted that Constituency and Zonal Intervention Projects remain critical tools for bridging the gap between government and the people by delivering visible, accessible, and community-driven development.
She commended the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs for documenting and consolidating the various interventions implemented across sectors and communities into a comprehensive reference document.
In his welcome address, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Rt. Hon. Zaphaniah Jisalo, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to its statutory responsibilities of monitoring, verification, certification, and coordination of Federal Government intervention projects nationwide.
Jisalo disclosed that between 2023 and 2025, significant investments were channelled into key sectors, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, water supply, rural electrification, security, women and youth empowerment, and community development.
The Minister also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly, and relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for their continued support toward the successful implementation of Constituency and Zonal Intervention Projects.
Presenting the Annual Status Report on implemented projects, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu, revealed that N100 billion was appropriated for 1,347 Constituency and Zonal Intervention Projects in the 2023 budget, while another N100 billion was allocated for 1,120 projects in the 2024 budget.
According to him, the Ministry recorded a significant improvement in project verification performance, rising from 28 per cent in 2023 to 43.1 per cent in 2024. He added that the 2025 verification exercise is currently underway.
Dr. Ihemelandu further disclosed that the Ministry plans to organize town hall sensitisation forums in more than 200 rural communities across Nigeria, convene a national conference of the 774 Local Government Council Chairmen, and host a Summit of National Honour Recipients before the end of the year as part of efforts to strengthen national development and stakeholder engagement.
The reviewer of the compendium, Professor Ifeoma Udoye, received commendation from the First Lady and other distinguished guests for her insightful assessment of the publication.
In her remarks, Prof. Udoye appealed to the First Lady, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and other leaders of the National Assembly to consider increased budgetary allocations for the Ministry and strengthen its institutional mechanisms to enhance performance and effective discharge of its statutory responsibilities