60% of Nigerians live in poverty - Peter Obi

By Madu Obi.

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that no fewer than 60% of Nigerians live in poverty.

Writing on his X page, Obi expressed worry that despite vast resources, Africa faces alarming corruption, poverty, youth unemployment, and inequality, with over 50% of the world's multi -dimensionally poor living in Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to him, Nigeria and Congo have over 60% of their populations living in poverty and suffering from unacceptable levels of inequality, calling on future African leaders to take bold actions to achieve people-centered development, confront insecurity head-on, tackle corruption, invest in health, education, and address poverty and unemployment.

Obi shared his views at a recent meeting with global leaders in Athens, Greece, saying, "In my brief presentation, I listed some of the variables responsible for the insecurity in Africa and I emphasized that as leaders, we must acknowledge the profound global and generational transformations confronting us.

Despite vast human and material resources, there remain significant unmet needs in global governance.

Urgent attention must be paid to enhancing collective security, lifting people out of poverty, and reducing injustice and inequality in society.

In the continent, we face high levels of insecurity, alarming corruption, worsening poverty, huge youth unemployment, and gross inequality.

Over 50% of the world's multi -dimensionally poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria and Congo both have over 60% of their populations living in poverty and suffering from unacceptable levels of inequality.

Non-state actors have also taken over security in some African nations. Furthermore, many African countries under -invest in critical areas of development, such as health and education.

Future African leaders must take bold, accelerated, just, and transformative actions to achieve far-reaching, people-centered development.

African leaders must confront insecurity head-on and reassure citizens of the state’s ability to maintain security without being undermined by non-state actors.

Nigeria has all the resources needed to move in this direction, and we remain committed to placing the nation on the right path.A New Nigeria is POssible."