The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has questioned why Nigeria did not declare World Poverty Day a public holiday, saying the occasion should have been used for national reflection on rising poverty.
Obi made the remarks in a post marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, arguing that millions of Nigerians were struggling to afford food and healthcare.
He cited figures in his post showing that Nigeria’s poverty rate rose from 40.1 per cent in 2019 to 56.2 per cent in 2023, with an estimated 63 per cent in 2026.
“What meaning does economic growth have when citizens are getting poorer, hungrier, and more insecure?” Obi asked.
He called for better management of public resources and increased investment in education, healthcare, agriculture and small businesses to address the situation.
Obi added that poverty should not define Nigeria’s future, insisting that a country where citizens could meet their basic needs and live with dignity was possible.