Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has said the policies and style of the All Progressives Congress-led government have impoverished several million Nigerians in just two years.
In a statement, he said the World Bank report, released on October 8, 2025, shows that a staggering 139 million Nigerians are now living in poverty, an alarming increase from the 87 million Nigerians living below the poverty line reported in 2023, when Tinubu was sworn in as President.
He said what this means is that in two years under the watch of the APC regime, over 50 million Nigerians were sent into poverty.
“This is a heartbreaking reflection of how deeply our nation is failing its citizens,” Obi lamented.
“What is even more concerning is that this devastating revelation has not led to an emergency and national discussion on how to effectively pull millions of our people out of poverty, but instead caused a rebuttal from the government, when the news already reflects the daily struggles of the ordinary Nigerian.
“The World Bank also revealed that despite the many celebrated reforms, the number of Nigerians living in poverty is rising, worsening Nigeria’s position as the most poverty-stricken nation in the world.
The reasons these reforms are not working are due to the lack of a clear plan and a lack of determination to channel the supposed gains into feasible and productive areas that will benefit the people and improve overall growth.
“Reforms must be deliberate and strictly followed by people-focused policies that prioritise production over consumption, support small businesses and farmers, invest in education and healthcare, and ensure that government spending directly impacts the lives of Nigerians by pulling them out of poverty.
“No nation can truly rise when the majority of its people are trapped in poverty. With the right leadership, we can make Nigeria work for every Nigerian.”.