ActionAid accuses FG of inaction amid rising poverty
Following the latest World Bank projections, ActionAid Nigeria has accused the Federal Government of failing to address the worsening poverty crisis, describing it as a “national disgrace.”
The World Bank’s Africa’s Pulse report projected that Nigeria’s poverty rate would increase by 3.6 percentage points by 2027, stating that 106 million Nigerians currently live on less than $2.15 a day, and Nigeria hosts 15% of the world’s extremely poor population.
The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, attributed the worsening poverty rate to deliberate policy choices, persistent governance failures, and systemic corruption at all levels of government.
“Nigeria’s governance remains its greatest challenge, and cited the World Bank’s assessment of Nigeria’s poor performance on government effectiveness, accountability, and political stability indicators that revealed that public institutions are failing to manage resources and deliver basic services,” he said.
He lamented that the Presidency, National Assembly, and other arms of government continue to prioritize luxury over lives, referencing the recent budgets for SUVs and office renovations while millions remain impoverished.
He accused President Bola Tinubu of avoiding meaningful reforms, bur offering “social protection rhetoric” that does little to address the root causes of poverty.
Mamedu also raised concerns about a shrinking civic space in Nigeria, alleging that activists and citizens who speak out are often silenced, intimidated, or detained.
He warned that growing poverty, insecurity, and disillusionment could drive further migration and instability, positioning Nigeria as the potential global capital of extreme poverty despite its status as Africa’s largest economy.
ActionAid Nigeria, however, urged citizens to hold government officials accountable and called on the Federal Government to enact a series of reforms, including expanding social protection programs, supporting smallholder farmers, eliminating non-essential public spending, stabilizing the economy through people-centered fiscal policies, safeguarding civic freedoms, improving access to education, and investing in infrastructure to promote inclusive growth.
“The time to be silent has passed,” Mamedu said. “Nigeria must prioritize the needs of its most vulnerable citizens to reverse this dangerous trend.”
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