₦airaland Forum

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has insisted that there are more poor Nigerians now than during the country’s independence in 1960.

El-Rufai said if the Nigerian government makes it a priority, it can end poverty like China and India which are in the process of beating the menace.

The key member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, disclosed this during an interactive session in Owerri, Imo State.

In his speech posted on his X page, the former governor said: “For the sake of our people, we need to have a roadmap for beating mass poverty.

“It is deeply embarrassing that, judging from the population estimate in 1960, there are now more poor Nigerians than there were Nigerians at independence 65 years ago. China has beaten mass poverty, while India is on a path to ending it.

“We too can do it, if we make it a governance priority to move our people out of poverty.”

El-Rufai said Nigeria needs a pragmatic economic programme to move citizens out of poverty.

He noted that rather than create agencies on humanitarian affairs, the Federal government should explore innovative ways of making honest Nigerians more hardworking.

The former governor also dismissed the get-rich-quick syndrome.

He said: “We need an economic programme to achieve this important human goal, a programme that is pragmatic in execution but ambitious in its goal.

“In this regard, what is needed is not new agencies of poverty alleviation or ‘humanitarian affairs’ with a massive bureaucracy, but innovative ways to make honest, hardworking citizens more productive and better-rewarded, while discouraging rent-seeking and other ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes in our society.”

Exousiang01:
He was governor for 8 years, he couldn't end poverty in Kaduna state. As a matter of fact he had sons in the National Assembly while he was a sitting Governor and the both of them couldn't end poverty in even their local government.
I would even like to hear what people from Southern Kaduna have to say about this

SmartPolician:
Tinubu doesn't have what it takes to end poverty. He's more interested in taking from ordinary Nigerians with taxes, taxes and taxes. If taxation is the only value accountants bring to the leadership circus, Nigerians should stop electing them. As far as Nigeria is concerned at the moment, lawyers make the best leaders.

adekolaelect:
Stop giving yourselves fake hope . No Government can take Nigerians poeples out of poverty but themselves. Rufai was a governor for 8 years , he was a minister for 12 years if not more . What poverty has he eradicated from his poeple before he start speaking like motivational speakers only when power no dey with him in the just 2 years ago?

SmartPolician:
Don't focus on the messenger; focus on the message. This mentality of yours has kept Nigeria a shit-hole country. I don't understand what's wrong with the black man! If those who invented everything we use today had your kind of mentality, the world would've still been in the stone age.

I don't blame you though; you have seen some of the worst of us without ideas take turns to ruin this country. That's why you think it cannot be done. Nigeria needs innovative compatriots to get in the driving seat and change our lachrymose economic situation.

helinues:
You people are the ones that need to.check your mentality. You lots never experienced hardship but you want to use that same hardship narration as the reason why President Tinubu should be replaced.

It's same you who never wanted the progress and development of Nigeria just because you don't like the president.

Tell me, is such mentality normal?

helinues:
You people are the ones that need to.check your mentality. You lots never experienced hardship but you want to use that same hardship narration as the reason why President Tinubu should be replaced.

It's same you who never wanted the progress and development of Nigeria just because you don't like the president.

Tell me, is such mentality normal?

Exousiang01:
He was governor for 8 years, he couldn't end poverty in Kaduna state. As a matter of fact he had sons in the National Assembly while he was a sitting Governor and the both of them couldn't end poverty in even their local government.
I would even like to hear what people from Southern Kaduna have to say about this

SmartPolician:
Don't focus on the messenger; focus on the message. This mentality of yours has kept Nigeria a shit-hole country. I don't understand what's wrong with the black man! If those who invented everything we use today had your kind of mentality, the world would've still been in the stone age.

I don't blame you though; you have seen some of the worst of us without ideas take turns to ruin this country. That's why you think it cannot be done. Nigeria needs innovative compatriots to get in the driving seat and change our lachrymose economic situation.

AMINDA:
Maybe he didn't end poverty in 8 years as governor but he took Kaduna from an average of 9 billion naira per year IGR to over 60 billion naira when he left office. Kaduna became the Northern State with the highest IGR during his tenure. Kaduna was consistently top 5 state that attracted the highest FDI while he was governor. He embarked on the iconic and ambitious KadunaUrbanRenewal drive that transformed the city of Kaduna into a very modern city. You can either visit Kaduna to see for yourself or do your research online. There's no Nigerian alive that can doubt the capacity of Elrufai to deliver in any task he's assigned. He delivered as DG BPE, delivered as FCT Minister (still the best till date) and delivered as governor of Kaduna state.

SuperEagles:
Delivwred as DG where he sold all public ebterprise to Atiku himself n their cronies ba ?!

SmartPolician:
Don't focus on the messenger; focus on the message. This mentality of yours has kept Nigeria a shit-hole country. I don't understand what's wrong with the black man! If those who invented everything we use today had your kind of mentality, the world would've still been in the stone age.

I don't blame you though; you have seen some of the worst of us without ideas take turns to ruin this country. That's why you think it cannot be done. Nigeria needs innovative compatriots to get in the driving seat and change our lachrymose economic situation.

Ofunaofu:
https://dailypost.ng/2025/09/07/nigerians-poorer-now-than-1960-el-rufai-tells-tinubu-govt-how-to-end-poverty/

SmartPolician:
Tinubu doesn't have what it takes to end poverty. He's more interested in taking from ordinary Nigerians with taxes, taxes and taxes. If taxation is the only value accountants bring to the leadership circus, Nigerians should stop electing them. As far as Nigeria is concerned at the moment, lawyers make the best leaders.