Obi noted that Nigeria’s poverty rate rose from 40.1 per cent in 2019 to 56.2 per cent in 2023, with an estimated figure of 63 per cent in 2026.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has suggested that the Nigerian government should have declared World Poverty Day a public holiday given the realities faced by citizens.
He made this known on Saturday in a statement shared on his official X page titled, ‘World Poverty Day: Why Nigeria Should Have Declared Today a Public Holiday’.
Obi’s statement came as Nigerians joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
According to the former Anambra State governor, the occasion should have been used for national reflection on rising poverty, as millions of Nigerians are still struggling to afford food and healthcare.
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He went on to say that Nigeria’s poverty rate rose from 40.1 per cent in 2019 to 56.2 per cent in 2023, and that it is expected to rise further to 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 further insisted that “poverty is not Nigeria’s destiny”, adding that “with competent leadership, prudent management of public resources, investment in education and healthcare, and support for agriculture and small businesses”, the country “can reverse this trend”.
Obi also noted that poverty should not define Nigeria’s future, reiterating that a country where citizens can meet their basic needs and live with dignity is achievable.
