Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has warned that hunger and poverty in Nigeria are worsening at an alarming rate, describing the crisis as “real and not just statistics.”
In a post on his X handle on Monday, the former Anambra State Governor said millions of Nigerians are facing acute food shortages and multi-dimensional poverty “at a scale never before seen in the country.”
“In our country today, hunger and poverty are not just distant statistics; they are the harsh reality that millions of our people face daily,” Obi stated. He cited a recent United Nations report indicating that 34 million Nigerians will experience acute food insecurity, while about 133 million—representing 63% of the population—are living in multidimensional poverty.
Obi blamed the situation on “incompetent leadership without capacity and compassion,” adding that economic mismanagement has nearly wiped out the country’s middle class. He called for disciplined governance, sound economic policies, and a focus on human development to pull Nigerians out of poverty.
Drawing parallels with Argentina, Obi highlighted how the South American nation, facing over 200% inflation and a 52% poverty rate in 2024, was able to cut poverty to 38.1% within two years through decisive reforms and cost-cutting in governance.
“Both Argentina and the current Nigerian leadership assumed office in the same year,” he noted, insisting that two years is enough to begin transforming a nation if leaders are “honest, focused, and committed to the people.”
Obi stressed that Nigeria’s revival will require tackling corruption, reducing the cost of governance, and investing in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation. “Nigeria can work. We can reduce hunger and restore dignity to Nigerians… A New Nigeria is POssible,” he concluded.
