Rising poverty worries Peter Obi

Former presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over what he described as a growing poverty crisis in Nigeria.

Obi made the remarks in a statement shared on his official page, where he referenced findings from a policy study released by Agora Policy.
According to him, the report indicated that Nigeria’s poverty rate has risen significantly in recent years.

“The poverty rate in our country has climbed from about 40 per cent before the current reforms to over 63 per cent today,” Obi said.

He noted that with Nigeria’s population estimated at over 220 million people, the figures suggest that more than 140 million citizens could now be living below the poverty line.

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“For a country whose population is estimated at over 220 million people, this means that well above 140 million Nigerians now live in poverty,” he stated.

The former governor of Anambra State added that many households across the country are reportedly struggling to meet basic needs such as food, transportation, rent and healthcare.

Obi also criticised what he described as a contrast between the economic hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians and government spending.

“You cannot ask the citizens to fast while you feast. Sacrifice must begin from the top,” he said.
He further argued that economic reforms should prioritise the welfare of citizens and protect vulnerable households.
However, the statement drew mixed reactions from users who commented on the post.

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A user identified as Igala Girl criticised the former presidential candidate, “You’re writing about poverty like you weren’t part of the people who manufactured it.”

Another commenter, Chigozie, said the figures cited in the report raises concerns about the direction of economic reforms. “If over 140 million Nigerians are living in poverty, we must ask who these reforms are really working for?” the user wrote.

Similarly, Kingsley Chinedu O described the situation as alarming. “140 million people living in poverty is a national crisis,” he said, adding that the gap between the hardship faced by citizens and the spending habits of political leaders remains troubling.

Another commenter, M Onyema, questioned the level of accountability among political leaders, suggesting that responsible leadership should address issues such as corruption, insecurity and economic hardship