141 Million Nigerians Live in Poverty as Politicians Fight for Power — Obi

Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, today issued a stark warning about Nigeria's escalating poverty crisis. He criticized politicians for prioritizing power struggles over addressing the dire needs of millions of citizens trapped in hardship.

Obi released the statement on his verified X account, highlighting alarming statistics from the World Bank. He revealed that poverty in Nigeria surged from 81 million people in 2019 to approximately 139 million in 2025.

Between 2023 and 2024 alone, an additional 14 million Nigerians fell into poverty, pushing the total to 129 million. Projections indicate that by 2026, this figure will climb to 141 million, affecting 62 percent of the population.

"As we politicians scramble for positions and vie for control of party structures often sharing posts even before elections are concluded a harsh truth confronts our nation. A staggering 62% of Nigerians roughly 141 million people are ensnared in poverty," Obi stated. He emphasized that this crisis represents not just a national failure but a profound threat to Nigeria's future.

Obi contrasted Nigeria's regression with progress in other nations. He noted that India reduced extreme poverty from 35-40 percent in 2000 to 5.3 percent today, while Indonesia lowered it from 30 percent to 8 percent. In stark contrast, Nigeria's poverty rate rose from 40 percent in 2000 to 62 percent now.

Economic factors exacerbate the issue, including sluggish income growth, persistent high costs of living, and inflation driven by energy and exchange rate challenges. 

Low income households spend up to 70 percent of their earnings on food, leaving them vulnerable to further shocks. This situation weakens consumer spending and hampers small businesses dependent on local markets.

On human development, Obi pointed out that Nigeria's Human Development Index remains stagnant at 0.53, while countries like India and Bangladesh have advanced significantly since 2000. He warned that children born in Nigeria today face heightened risks of lifelong poverty, jeopardizing the nation's progress.

Obi called for urgent structural reforms to reverse the trend. He urged leaders to prioritize political stability, agriculture, education, health, and job creation. "The fact that 141 million Nigerians are living in poverty is not merely a national failure; it is a blatant threat to our future," he added.