Budget 2026: Federal Government Allocates ₦23.56 Billion for Youth Empowerment, Medical Outreach, and Poverty Reduction

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has proposed a total allocation of ₦23.56 billion in the 2026 federal budget to fund youth empowerment initiatives, medical and surgical outreach programmes, and other poverty reduction interventions across Nigeria.

According to details of the proposed budget, ₦1.39 billion has been earmarked for personnel costs, while ₦978.39 million is allocated for overhead expenses. Capital expenditure accounts for the bulk of the allocation, with ₦21.18 billion set aside for programme execution and infrastructure development.

The ministry disclosed that ₦14 billion has been proposed for youth empowerment initiatives and medical and surgical outreach programmes nationwide. In addition, ₦1.05 billion is allocated for the training and empowerment of selected youths and women in Kano State, with the goal of promoting economic independence and self-reliance.

As part of its empowerment strategy, the ministry plans to spend ₦1.4 billion on the procurement of electric buses to support selected associations and unions across Kwara State. The programme is designed to enhance economic productivity and provide sustainable income opportunities.

The budget also includes ₦166.04 million for the supply of essential food items to vulnerable individuals in Lagos State. A further ₦115.5 million is proposed for vocational skills acquisition and starter packs for internally displaced persons, widows, and youths. The skills covered include vulcanising, tailoring, plumbing, barbing, paint production, fish farming, and poultry farming.

Another ₦126 million has been earmarked for economic empowerment programmes targeting vulnerable adolescents and youths. This component will focus on skills such as soap making, tie and dye, carpentry, sewing, welding, beekeeping, fish farming, piggery, shoe and bag making, and vulcanising. The allocation also covers the procurement of empowerment tools including sewing machines, carpentry tools, welding equipment, industrial weaving machines, shoe-making equipment, and raw materials.

The ministry further proposed ₦280.38 million for the monitoring and evaluation of its projects and programmes, while ₦112 million is allocated for the purchase of office furniture and fittings. An additional ₦113 million is budgeted for office machines and equipment.

For women-focused interventions, ₦218.75 million has been set aside for phased empowerment programmes targeting 5,000 rural women across the 774 local government areas of the country. The ministry also allocated ₦145.74 million for the procurement of starter packs, tools, equipment, and logistics required to support empowerment initiatives.

In the area of nutrition and emergency response, ₦71.75 million is proposed for the provision of essential nutritious commodities and food items during emergency outbreaks that could result in malnutrition. Another ₦70 million is earmarked for one-off grants and nutrition scale-up support for 36,000 identified malnourished households across the six geopolitical zones.

The budget also includes provisions for education and infrastructure development. The ministry plans to spend ₦280 million on the construction of classroom blocks in Ikun and Etono communities in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, and another ₦280 million for classroom construction in schools within Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.

To support persons with disabilities, ₦73.5 million has been allocated for the provision of assistive technologies and educational equipment. An additional ₦73.5 million is proposed for empowerment kits and accessibility interventions at farm craft centres, including the establishment of braille presses and libraries across the six geopolitical zones.

The ministry also plans to invest ₦175 million in the supply and installation of solar streetlights in the Funtua and Dandume Federal Constituency, as part of efforts to improve security and public infrastructure.

The proposed 2026 budget underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, social welfare, and inclusive economic development across Nigeria.