71 million Nigerians living in extreme poverty – WPC

71 million Nigerians living in extreme poverty – WPC

 

A 2023 report by the World poverty Clock says 71 million Nigerians are living in extreme poverty.

The World Poverty Clock provides real-time estimates for almost every country in the world. It also monitors the progress against Ending Extreme Poverty.

The 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, quoted the data on Saturday.

He also said worldwide, 25,000 die daily from hunger, including more than 10,000 children.

He therefore urged Nigeria to design a simple, implementable and sustainable poverty eradication model and stick to it over time.

Cole spoke in Abuja at the Nigeria Zero Hunger Symposium, organised by T200 Foundation to mark World Hunger Day and unveiling of Nigeria’s hunger report.

He said, “Nigeria has the awful distinction of being the world capital of poverty, with 71 million people living in extreme poverty today (World Poverty Clock, 2023).”

He also said the nation has a total of 133 million people classed as multidimensionally poor, according to the National Bureau of Statistics data.

“In other words, about 828 million people will wake up every day having no idea when or where their next meal will come from, and many will go to bed that day without eating anything. This is according to a 2021 UN report.

“The UN further states that of these 828 million people, 25,000 will die today, including more than 10,000 children.

“Nigeria must design a simple, implementable, and sustainable poverty eradication model and stick to it over time.

“Other factors that contribute to hunger, such as violence, weak government, and health-care systems, must be addressed promptly if zero hunger is to be achieved.

“These are real difficulties in Nigeria and addressing them is critical not only for hunger eradication but also for the country’s overall progress.”