Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned that Nigeria risks deeper chaos if the government fails to confront the worsening poverty crisis.
In a statement on X marking the International Day for Poverty Eradication, Atiku described poverty as “humanity’s greatest enemy,” stressing that it continues to breed “disease, ignorance, insecurity, and hopelessness” across the country.
“As a wise Nigerian proverb says, ‘When the poor man is hungry, peace sleeps outside.’ When poverty is defeated, the freedom and dignity of every man and woman will find true meaning,” Atiku stated.
He called for deliberate, people-focused strategies to combat the growing hardship, urging the government to take the fight “to every home, every community, and every school.”
Atiku emphasized that the observance of the International Day for Poverty Eradication should serve as a “call to action” for governments, civil society, and development partners to unite in ending poverty in all its forms.
The former vice president noted that his long-standing advocacy for people-centred economic policies remains strong, lamenting that Nigeria is now among the countries most severely affected by poverty.
His remarks come in the wake of a World Bank report that paints a grim picture of Nigeria’s economic reality. According to Mathew Verghis, the bank’s country director for Nigeria, about 139 million Nigerians are living in poverty, despite recent government reforms.
“The challenge is clear: how to translate the gains from the reforms into better living standards for all,” Verghis said, adding that many households still face high food inflation and insecurity.
The report further noted that food prices have surged dramatically, with the cost of a basic food basket increasing fivefold between 2019 and 2024, pushing millions into deeper poverty.
