Abuja — Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party leader, Peter Obi, has warned that Nigeria is sinking deeper into poverty while political actors remain preoccupied with power struggles and control of party structures.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Obi said about 141 million Nigerians, roughly 62 per cent of the population, are currently living in poverty, describing the situation as a serious national setback and a looming danger to the country’s future.
He lamented that while politicians engage in intense battles for offices and party leadership positions, millions of citizens are being pushed into hardship.
Citing World Bank figures, Obi noted that Nigeria’s poverty numbers have risen sharply in recent years, from 81 million people in 2019 to about 139 million in 2025.
According to him, the most alarming increase occurred within a single year, as the number of Nigerians living in poverty jumped from 115 million in 2023 to 129 million in 2024, forcing an additional 14 million people into deprivation.
He added that projections indicate the figure could rise to 141 million by 2026, meaning about 26 million Nigerians may fall into poverty between 2023 and 2026.
Obi warned that low-income households are the worst hit, as food accounts for as much as 70 per cent of their total spending, making them extremely vulnerable to rising food prices and inflation.
He cautioned that sustained poverty could weaken public finances, erode human capital and slow economic recovery unless urgent steps are taken to create jobs, boost productivity and strengthen social protection programmes.
He further observed that Nigeria’s poverty rate has climbed from about 40 per cent in 2000 to 62 per cent today, while the country continues to lag behind peers on human development.
Obi noted that by 2025, countries such as India, Bangladesh and Indonesia had made notable progress, while Nigeria remained stuck in the low human development category.
Describing the situation as unacceptable, Obi said the scale of poverty in Nigeria is not just a national failure but a clear threat to the country’s future, stressing that the time for complacency is over.
Obi Faults Non-Payment of Super Eagles Allowances
Meanwhile, Obi has also criticised the Nigeria Football Federation over reports of unpaid match allowances owed to members of the Super Eagles, calling it an embarrassing reflection of misplaced priorities.
Reacting to reports that the national team players were still being owed agreed bonuses despite their performances, Obi said the situation sends the wrong message at a time Nigerians look to sports for unity and pride.
He questioned how the country could fail to meet such basic obligations, especially when large sums of public funds are routinely written off or spent on projects that have little impact on ordinary citizens.
According to him, the inability to promptly pay players’ allowances exposes deeper issues of poor accountability and distorted national priorities.
Obi warned that such lapses damage Nigeria’s international image and could distract the team ahead of crucial matches.
He stressed that the matter goes beyond football, insisting that a nation’s credibility depends on its ability to honour commitments, no matter how small, adding that Nigeria must learn to keep its promises.