As Muhammadu Buhari jets off to Daura, Katsina State, for possible retirement, the former present is leaving an army of poor Nigerians for his successor, Bola Tinubu.
Under Buhari's leadership, poverty became a pervasive issue, with policies after another, digging Nigerians deeper into poverty.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 133 million Nigerians are poor (63% of the entire population) are multidimensionally poor. The poverty rate in urban areas is higher at a staggering 69.6% in 2022, with the data for rural areas being 30.4%. Nearly seven of every ten city dwellers face extreme hardships, struggling to meet their basic needs and achieve a better life.
Geographically, Nigeria experiences significant variance in poverty rates across its regions.
The northern parts of the country have been particularly affected. The North West region has a poverty rate of 28.4%, followed by the North Central region at 14.4% and the North East at 12.7%. These figures highlight the disproportionate impact of poverty on the northern regions, deepening socio-economic inequalities.
Meanwhile, the southern regions demonstrate comparatively lower poverty rates. The South-West region stands at 19.2%, the South East at 10.5%, and the South-South at 14.8%.
While these regions fare better than their northern counterparts, it is essential to acknowledge that millions in the south still face the daily challenges of poverty.
As President Tinubu begins his administration, Nigeria's poverty remains a pressing concern, and the statistics underscore the urgent need for effective measures to address this crisis.
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