Former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi has called on all levels of government in Nigeria to promptly channel the national focus towards critical areas of development, especially health, education, and poverty alleviation.
Peter Obi made this request via a statement posted on his official X page on Tuesday.
He noted that the increase in the country’s poverty level were results of misplaced priorities.
The statement reads “In Nigeria today, the situation we find ourselves in calls for urgent and deliberate action.
“It is time for all levels of government to prioritize critical areas of development—particularly investment in health, education, and poverty alleviation.
“We must reassess what truly matters. The decisions we make—what we build, fund, and focus on—must align with the pressing needs of the people.”
The former state governor also revealed that “Just this month, the World Bank reported that, as of April 2025, the poverty rate among rural Nigerians has risen to over 75%, indicating widespread economic hardship across the country. The report also highlighted that 41.3% of Nigeria’s urban population now lives below the poverty line. This shows that poverty is no longer just a rural crisis—it has become a national emergency.”
Peter Obi added that “In comparison, the World Bank reported that in 2018/2019, about 30.9% of Nigerians lived below the international extreme poverty line.
“As of 2025, that figure has more than doubled instead of improving.
“These facts confirm that poverty in Nigeria has worsened significantly—and this is no coincidence,” Peter Obi added.
Poverty as a result of misplaced priorities- Peter Obi
“It is the direct result of years of misplaced priorities. Rather than investing in critical sectors, we have continued to prioritize wasteful spending on non-developmental projects such as conference centres, government houses and lodges, guest houses, and fleets of official vehicles—instead of investing in human capital, education, and healthcare, which are the true legacy projects capable of transforming a nation.
“We must urgently redirect our national focus and address the root causes of poverty.
“Nigeria must expand access to quality education and healthcare, and support job creation by investing in and empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which are essential for lifting people out of poverty.”
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