Poverty is Nigeria’s Greatest Problem– Atiku
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has expressed grave concern over the escalating levels of poverty in Nigeria, branding it as one of the nation’s most formidable challenges.
Atiku shared his thoughts on his verified X account on Saturday, coinciding with the International Day for Poverty Eradication.
He mournfully highlighted that Nigeria continues to rank among the nations most severely affected by poverty, despite its vast wealth of human talent and natural resources.
He articulated that poverty perpetuates other critical societal issues such as illness, ignorance, insecurity, and despair, advocating for prompt, human-focused actions to tackle this pressing crisis.
“Poverty stands as the most vicious foe humanity has ever encountered. Wherever it takes hold, whether in an individual’s life or throughout a society, it cultivates additional adversities such as disease, ignorance, insecurity, and despair,” he proclaimed.
The 2023 presidential hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) characterized the observance as a timely reminder and a rallying cry, urging governmental entities at all tiers, civil society organizations, and stakeholders to unite in the pursuit of sustainable solutions that would empower individuals and elevate communities from the grips of poverty.
“At both governmental and communal levels, we must wage a relentless battle against poverty in every home, every neighborhood, and every educational institution, ensuring that the everyday Nigerian plays an integral role in the solution,” he emphasized.
His comments come on the heels of a recent World Bank Nigeria Development Update report, which disclosed that 139 million Nigerians continue to live in poverty amid soaring food inflation and insecurity.
