The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has described the newly launched 560-page compendium on Constituency and Zonal Intervention Projects as a major step towards strengthening accountability, transparency, and effective service delivery across the country.

Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady stated this on Tuesday at the launch of the compendium titled “Actualising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through the Implementation of Constituency Projects” held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

According to a statement signed on Wednesday by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Maryam Muhammad, Tinubu said constituency and zonal intervention projects remained critical tools for bringing development closer to the people.

She said, “The Zonal Constituency Projects remain vital instruments for bridging the gap between Government and the people, while ensuring that development is not abstract but visible, accessible, and responsive to the needs of our communities.”

The First Lady also commended the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs for documenting and consolidating constituency interventions across various sectors and communities into a structured publication.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Rt. Hon. Zaphaniah Jisalo, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to monitoring, verification, certification, and coordination of Federal Government intervention projects nationwide.

Jisalo disclosed that between 2023 and 2025, investments were made in key sectors including infrastructure, education, healthcare, water supply, rural electrification, security, women and youth empowerment, and community development.

He also praised President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies for supporting the 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, said N100bn was appropriated for 1,347 constituency and zonal intervention projects in the 2023 budget.

He added that another N100bn was budgeted for 1,120 projects in the 2024 fiscal year.

According to him, the ministry recorded a 43.1 per cent performance rate in project verification activities in 2024, compared to 28 per cent in 2023, noting that the 2025 verification exercise is currently ongoing.

Ihemelandu further disclosed that the ministry plans to organise town hall sensitisation forums in more than 200 rural communities, convene a national conference of the 774 local government chairmen, and host a summit of National Honour recipients before the end of the year.

The reviewer of the compendium, Professor Ifeoma Udoye, called for increased budgetary allocation to the ministry and stronger institutional mechanisms to enhance its performance and fulfil its statutory responsibilities.