Federal Government Backs ALGON’s Plan to Light Up All 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria

SGF Akume praises “Light Up Nigeria 774” initiative as a security, economic, and community development intervention at the grassroots

The Federal Government has thrown its weight behind the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria’s ambitious “Light Up Nigeria 774” initiative, with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume describing the programme as a commendable effort that goes well beyond aesthetics to address security and socio-economic development at the community level.

Akume gave the endorsement on April 1, 2026, when ALGON’s leadership and Board of Trustees, led by President Iliyasu Zakari, paid a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja. He requested detailed information on the programme for further government consideration and support, signalling that federal backing could follow formal presentation of the implementation framework.

More Than Streetlights

The SGF was deliberate in framing the initiative’s significance beyond physical infrastructure. Improved lighting across cities and rural communities, he argued, directly deters criminal activity, enhances personal safety, and creates a more enabling environment for economic activity at the grassroots.

“When you light up cities and villages, you are not just improving their appearance, you are also strengthening security and creating a more conducive environment for economic activities,” he said, adding that local governments — as the tier of government closest to the people — are uniquely positioned to play a frontline role in community security.

Unprecedented Federal Attention to Local Government Funding

Akume also highlighted what he described as an unprecedented level of deliberate federal attention to local government funding and operations under the Tinubu administration, urging council leaders to match that investment with discipline, accountability, and a people-centred approach to service delivery.

“For those of us who have worked at the local government level, this is the first time the government at the centre has paid such deliberate attention to the funding and operations of local governments,” he said, framing strong local leadership as essential to translating those resources into real community impact.

ALGON Pledges Full Alignment With Renewed Hope Agenda

ALGON President Iliyasu Zakari reaffirmed the association’s commitment to rolling out the initiative across all 774 local government areas in the country, describing it as a critical component of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He confirmed that ALGON is finalising a comprehensive programme detail and implementation framework to be formally presented to the Federal Government for review and support in due course.

The initiative, if fully implemented, would represent one of the most extensive grassroots infrastructure programmes in Nigeria’s recent history — touching every local government area in the country and potentially reshaping both the safety and economic character of communities from the Niger Delta to the far north.