The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has earmarked N23,562,393,982 in the 2026 budget to implement various social and economic development programs across Nigeria. Of this, N1,399,578,241 is set aside for personnel costs, N978,386,116 for overheads, and N21,184,430,581 for capital expenditure.
A major portion of the capital expenditure, N14 billion, is dedicated to youth empowerment initiatives, medical and surgical outreach, and skills development programs. Specifically, N1,050,000,000 has been allocated to empower selected youths and women in Kano State to become economically independent. The ministry also plans to spend N1.4 billion on electric buses, which will be distributed as empowerment tools for associations and unions in Kwara State.
For vocational and entrepreneurial skills acquisition, N115,500,000 is earmarked for starter packs and training in areas such as tailoring, plumbing, barbing, paint-making, fish farming, poultry farming, and vulcanising, targeting internally displaced persons (IDPs), widows, and youths. An additional N126,000,000 will fund empowerment programmes for vulnerable adolescents and youths across the country, supporting skills like soap-making, tie and dye, carpentry, sewing, welding, bee-keeping, piggery, shoe and bag-making, along with the procurement of related tools and equipment.
The ministry also set aside N218,750,000 for phased empowerment programs reaching 5,000 rural women across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, complemented by N145,740,000 for starter packs, tools, equipment, and logistics. Emergency food and nutrition support will receive N71,750,000 for vulnerable households, while malnutrition interventions targeting 36,000 identified households across the six geopolitical zones are allocated N70 million.
Education and accessibility projects are also prioritised. The ministry will invest N560 million for the construction of classroom blocks in the Ikun/Etono and Akampa Local Government Areas in Cross River State. Assistive technologies and special intervention programs for persons with disabilities, including six Braille presses and libraries, will receive N147 million. Furthermore, N175 million is budgeted for the supply and installation of solar streetlights in the Funtua/Dandume Federal Constituency.
Through these initiatives, the ministry aims to foster economic self-reliance, strengthen vocational skills, support women and youth entrepreneurs, and improve access to education and essential services across Nigeria.
