Peter Obi warns Nigeria's poverty rate surges to 63%

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi expressed alarm over Nigeria's escalating poverty crisis, citing a policy study showing the poverty rate jumped from 40% to 63% since 2023 reforms. With 220 million people, this translates to over 140 million citizens living below the poverty line. Obi criticized the government's spending priorities, stating 'You cannot ask citizens to fast while you feast' and called for economic reforms to prioritize vulnerable households. The statement drew mixed reactions, with critics questioning the authenticity of the figures and the direction of economic policies.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/03/16/peter-obi-raises-concern-over-rising-poverty-in-nigeria/