Nigeria does not have 100m destitute – Presidency

November 18, 2013



The Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr. Nwanze Okidegbe has said that the statement credited to the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly that 100 Million Nigerians are living in destitution or extreme poverty was a ‘spurious claim’ that is “easily disprovable.

In a statement in Abuja, the Presidential Aide noted that the position of the country director is a sharp contrast to what the world bank had said about the level of poverty in Nigeria.

“First, it clearly contradicts the position of the World Bank on the level of poverty in Nigeria. During the visit of the Bank’s Vice President for Africa, Makhtar Diop, in May 2013, he declared that poverty has fallen under this administration from 48 percent to 46 percent. Given our current population of about 170 million people, the Country Director’s imagery of 100 million Nigerian destitutes seems to be based on a much higher poverty rate than that of her boss. The question that arises from this absurdity therefore is: who is right?

“Second, according to the World Bank itself, to live in extreme poverty is to live on less than $1.25 per day, including the cost of accommodation, clothing, feeding, and other incidentals. $1.25 per day translates into N200 per day (or N6,000 per month). On feeding alone, a loaf of bread costs more than N200 in many parts of Nigeria while a plate of food, even from a roadside food vendor, costs about the same amount.

“More also, there are about 112 million active GSM lines in Nigeria. Even accounting for those who own more than one phone and netting out nearly 44 percent of Nigerians who are under 15 years (and mostly do not have phones), this is not a description of a country with 100 million destitutes living in extreme poverty.

“This administration is undertaking critical reforms in all key sectors of the economy to create jobs and reduce poverty. For example, the reforms in the agricultural sector have increased production and created many job opportunities. In recognition of the fact that growth in the Agricultural Sector is pro-poor, we are confident that the consistent growth being recorded in agriculture is translating into further poverty reduction.

“Indeed, Nigeria was recently honoured for meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing people living in absolute hunger by half, well ahead of the 2015 target set by the United Nations. On average, about 20 percent of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) is allocated exclusively to protecting the poor through different types of social safety nets. One important area of success is the Conditional Grant Scheme with total conditional cash transfer to almost 40,000 households and recruitment of over 2,000 new health workers working on improving maternal and child health.

“Rather than engage in peddling easily disprovable and inaccurate poverty numbers, we believe it would be a better for the World Bank to focus its attention on designing programmes and interventions to support the government’s efforts in accelerating poverty reduction in Nigeria”.

“Second, according to the World Bank itself, to live in extreme poverty is to live on less than $1.25 per day, including the cost of accommodation, clothing, feeding, and other incidentals. $1.25 per day translates into N200 per day (or N6,000 per month). On feeding alone, a loaf of bread costs more than N200 in many parts of Nigeria while a plate of food, even from a roadside food vendor, costs about the same amount.

HNosegbe:

In my opinion, poverty (as well as wealth) is relative. What defines true poverty is the inability to meet your basic needs with your current level of income, and going by this definition the World Bank is right in saying that more that 100million Nigerians live in poverty.

The real question is, what are we doing to address this?

Poverty is a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society. It means not having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to; not having the land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living and not having access to credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living on marginal or fragile environments, without access to clean water or sanitation.

“Nigeria is blessed with a large natural resource base, woven around major areas of proven competitive and comparative advantage, such as oil and gas, agriculture and mining, among others. This country is the seventh largest producer of crude oil, globally, with 37 billion barrels of proven reserves.

“With its 10th largest oil reserves in the world and 8th largest gas reserves, the nation is a major player in the gas market. (Reserves of about 187 trillion cubic metres). The Geological Survey Agency of Nigeria also records 44 exploitable minerals in commercial quantities, aside from the availability of 84 million hectares of Arable Land, out of which only about 40 per cent is utilised.

“On feeding alone, a loaf of bread costs more than N200 in many parts of Nigeria while a plate of food, even from a roadside food vendor, costs about the same amount. More also, there are about 112 million active GSM lines in Nigeria.

“Even accounting for those who own more than one phone and netting out nearly 44 percent of Nigerians who are under 15 years (and mostly do not have phones), this is not a description of a country with 100 million destitute living in extreme poverty”.

agbameta:


I read this on premium times yesterday and I laughed instead of crying for my dear country and the thoughtless and out of touch nonentities we call leaders...

So, when we talk about poverty in Nigeria, GSM lines and cell phones are now the major determining factors?

bloggernaija:

NIGERIA-A COUNTRY WHERE THE TOTALLY BLIND LEAD THE PARTIALLY BLIND.

take dat: Funnily, if the same World bank releases a report that there are major improvements in our social welfare indicators even though the people are not feeling the impact or the report says that unemployment rate is now 10%, the Government would gladly accept the report but Government outrightly rejected this. A Government that appreciates if her performance is 'over exaggerated' shouldn't be angry when lied against.


I do not believe in the 100million claim though. But poverty still persists, inequality widens and its prosperity for a few in our society. We have a few wealthy Islands surrounded by a vast Sea of Poverty. Our Government should tackle these challenges head on. Corruption robs the poor the most, and deprives millions of people of access to service and of the opportunity to earn a living.

But Chukwu said the yearly occurrence of cholera could be stopped “if there is a mechanism to stop open defecation which will prevent contamination of water sources and foods that are major causes of cholera in the country.”

He added, “Reports from the 14 states affected by the cholera and gastroenteritis outbreak indicated that indiscriminate open defecation practice and lack of toilet facilities which contaminated water sources and foods were the major causes of cholera in these states.

Seventy per cent of common tropical diseases are water-related and can be eliminated if adequate supply of water at the right quantity and quality is provided to the public,” 

juman: Destitute in the country is more than 100 million.

anulaxad: It's definitely more than 100 million people.

danot1030: ok mr presido can u pls tell d world hw many nigeria can afford basic needs.

taharqa: Actuali, an Actual Report from d World Bank early this yr indicated that Poverty Rate DECREASED in Nigeria from 48% to 46% bw 2011 and 2012. This woman shld tell simply us how she got to her conclusions....@bold2, EOM

iterator25:


your families inclusive?