A Renewed Hope Fact-Based Briefing on Strategic National Investments
Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, the Federal Government has made tough but necessary decisions to stabilise the economy and rescue Nigeria from decades of fiscal sabotage. The removal of fuel subsidy, forex unification, and deep-rooted tax reforms have significantly increased national revenue.
But one popular question keeps surfacing on the streets and social media. Nigerians ask:
“Where is all the extra money going, and why are we still borrowing?”
Here’s the clear, fact-based answer:
Yes, revenues have increased. But these gains are being strategically reinvested into social welfare, infrastructure, education, security, and economic empowerment to address decades of underinvestment. However, Nigeria is still borrowing selectively and purposefully, not for consumption or subsidies, but for capital-intensive projects that will deliver long-term growth.
Take for instance:
- The $500 million World Bank loan, approved in 2024, is strictly for the mass procurement of prepaid electricity meters, aimed at ending estimated billing, supporting economic resilience, and improving access to electricity.
- The $1 billion Afreximbank financing is being used to modernise healthcare manufacturing and access.
- The $1.1 billion Green Imperative Project with Brazil will mechanise agriculture and reduce food insecurity.
- The N54.99 trillion 2025 national budget includes borrowing tied to specific infrastructure projects, many of which are under Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and performance-based financing.
The borrowing is targeted, transparent, and tied to growth drivers. At the same time, Nigeria has cleared over $10 billion in legacy FX debts and fully repaid the $3.4 billion IMF COVID-19 loan while growing foreign reserves from $3.99 billion to $23.11 billion. That is evidence of fiscal discipline, not recklessness.
Here’s where the Renewed Hope administration is strategically spending the extra revenue:
- Presidential Loan & Grant Scheme
Supporting over 900,000 nano-businesses, MSMEs, and manufacturers to unlock grassroots productivity and reduce unemployment. - Students’ Loan Scheme
Empowering about 500,000 students across tertiary institutions to access interest-free education financing. - Road & Transport Infrastructure
Funding over 440 ongoing road projects and 2,700km of superhighways, including legacy coastal and inland corridors. - Minimum Wage Implementation
Financing the new national minimum wage of ₦70,000 to improve purchasing power and social welfare. - Solid Minerals & Natural Resources
Unlocking over $800 million in investments and 75,000+ jobs across Nigeria’s growing mineral economy. - Oil, Gas, and Energy Expansion
Enabling over $8 billion in oil and gas investments, alongside new tax incentives and refinery rehabilitation. - Regional Development Commissions
Establishing five new commissions to address historical regional disparities and promote equitable growth.
Let us get to the basics:
a. Targeted Social Welfare and Relief
Over ₦1 trillion saved from subsidy removal is being used to directly support Nigerians:
₦500 billion in 2023 alone went to cash transfers, food palliatives, fertiliser subsidies, and transport support.
Over 900,000 small businesses accessed funds under the Presidential Loan & Grant Scheme.
About 500,000 Nigerian students are currently enrolled in the interest-free Student Loan Scheme, ensuring that economic status is no longer a barrier to education.
b. Massive Infrastructure Development
Tinubu’s administration has revived old projects and launched new megastructures to stimulate the economy:
Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway (750km)
Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway (1,058km)
Benin–Asaba Expressway, Abuja Metro Line, and Port Harcourt–Aba Railway
Over 440 federal road projects and 2,700km of superhighways
Highest-ever 6,003MW daily power generation
Modernisation of airports, rails, and ports to improve logistics and mobility
Renewed Hope Housing Project. As part of Mr President’s strategic deployment of increased government revenue, the Renewed Hope Administration has rolled out the Renewed Hope Housing Project, a nationwide transformative initiative designed to address Nigeria’s housing deficit. This bold step is expanding access to affordable home ownership through two key financing options: the National Housing Fund (NHF) Loan at a 6% interest rate, and the FMBN Non-Interest Rent-to-Own Scheme. By removing traditional financial barriers, this innovative programme brings the dream of homeownership within reach for millions of hardworking Nigerians, turning hope into tangible progress, one home at a time
c. Securing Nigeria for Growth
More money means better security (military hardware, equipment, training, etc) and the numbers prove it:
Over 13,500 terrorists neutralised; 17,000+ arrests and 9,800 hostages rescued
Procurement of military helicopters, warships, and improved tactical equipment
Community policing, Forest Guards, and Agro-Rangers are now protecting rural communities.
Stronger intelligence coordination is helping to restore calm to formerly volatile regions, though more work needs to be done.
d. Youth Empowerment and Job Creation
Through multiple bold initiatives, Nigeria is putting young people back to work:
The 3MTT Programme is training 3 million youth in digital skills
The SUPA Artisans Program targets 5 million tradesmen annually
Over 280,000 jobs were created in the creative economy.
The Presidential CNG Initiative alone aims to create 75,000 jobs.
N200 billion loan/grant schemes are unlocking MSME potential nationwide
e. Debt Repayment & Fiscal Transparency
Rather than ballooning debt unsustainably, extra revenue is being used wisely:
Over $10 billion in foreign exchange debt cleared.
Full repayment of the $3.4 billion IMF COVID-19 loan
Foreign reserves jumped from $3.99 billion to $23.11 billion in under 12 months.
Budget efficiency audits and IPPIS payroll cleanup are slashing waste
f. Investing in Health, Education & Local Governance
From revitalising health centres to building digital classrooms and giving LGAs autonomy:
Over 8,000 primary healthcare centres were revitalised with over N80 billion.
6 world-class cancer treatment centres underway
Zero VAT on imported pharmaceutical inputs
Over 2,500 health professionals were hired, and 60,000 were retrained.
Enforcement of local government autonomy and decentralised development commissions
g. Rising State Allocations and Subnational Empowerment
Thanks to increased federal revenue, state governments are receiving record-breaking monthly disbursements through FAAC, enabling them to fund local infrastructure, agriculture, and healthcare programs. The federal government has challenged states to match these resources with performance and transparency.
h. Conclusion: The Truth They Don’t Want You to Hear
Yes, there is still hardship, but for the first time in a long time, the hardship is transitional, not terminal. President Tinubu is not offering populist slogans. He’s offering a real recovery plan.
Meanwhile, the loudest critics, the so-called “coalition of no ideas”, are the same people who built the system that collapsed. They offer no alternative but empty soundbites, recycled outrage, and zero solutions.
As Albert Einstein said, “You cannot solve a problem with the same mindset that created it.”
This administration is not recycling failures. It’s laying the bricks for a future that works.
While the coalition circles around, we are building in straight lines.
The Renewed Hope Agenda is not a sprint; it’s a purposeful, national marathon. And we are already halfway to the finish line.
🇳🇬 Let’s finish strong. Let’s finish united.
securityandsafetymatters 