
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria's 2023 general election, Peter Obi has highlighted the severe poverty levels in Nigeria and their direct link to the country's security challenges.

Speaking at an international forum in Athens, Greece, Obi emphasized that over 60% of Nigerians live in poverty, with a significant portion of the population being multidimensionally poor.
He stated, "In Africa, we face high levels of insecurity, alarming corruption, worsening poverty, huge youth unemployment, and gross inequality. Over 50 per cent of the world’s multidimensional poor live in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria and Congo both have over 60 per cent of their populations living in poverty and suffer from unacceptable levels of inequality."
Obi attributed these issues to underinvestment in critical areas such as health and education, calling for bold, accelerated, and transformative actions from future leaders to achieve far-reaching, people-centred development. He stressed the need for urgent attention to enhance collective security, lift people out of poverty, and reduce injustice and inequality in society.
The Nigerian Living Standards Survey (NLSS) and the World Bank's report "A Better Future for All Nigerians: Nigeria Poverty Assessment 2022" provide comprehensive data supporting Obi's claims. The NLSS is the official survey measuring poverty and living standards in Nigeria, while the World Bank report highlights that as many as 4 in 10 Nigerians live below the national poverty line. The report also notes that many Nigerians lack access to basic infrastructure, such as electricity, safe drinking water, and improved sanitation, and that jobs do not effectively lift people out of poverty.
Obi's statements signify the urgent need for deep structural reforms in Nigeria, including macroeconomic reforms, policies to boost productivity, and improvements in access to essential services. These reforms are crucial for diversifying the economy, creating productive jobs, and supporting social protection programs. As Obi concluded, "Nigeria has all the resources needed to move in this direction, and we remain committed to placing the nation on the right path."
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