By Abiola Olawale
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of President Bola Tinubu of purportedly driving over 50 million citizens into poverty since taking office in 2023.
Citing a World Bank report, Obi described the surge as a “heartbreaking reflection of failed governance,” urging immediate, people-centered reforms to reverse the tide.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Obi said government policies implemented over the past two years had worsened living conditions for citizens rather than improving them.
He said: “The World Bank report, released on October 8, 2025, shows that a staggering 139 million Nigerians are now living in poverty, an alarming increase from the 87 million Nigerians living below the poverty line reported in 2023, when Tinubu was sworn in as President.
“What this means is that in two years under the watch of the APC regime, over 50 million Nigerians were sent into poverty. This is a heartbreaking reflection of how deeply our nation is failing its citizens.
“What is even more concerning is that this devastating revelation has not led to an emergency and national discussion on how to effectively pull millions of our people out of poverty, but instead caused a rebuttal from the government, when the news already reflects the daily struggles of the ordinary Nigerian.
“The World Bank also revealed that despite the many celebrated reforms, the number of Nigerians living in poverty is rising, worsening Nigeria’s position as the most poverty-stricken nation in the world.
“The reasons these reforms are not working are due to the lack of a clear plan and a lack of determination to channel the supposed gains into feasible and productive areas that will benefit the people and improve overall growth.
“Reforms must be deliberate and strictly followed by people-focused policies that prioritise production over consumption, support small businesses and farmers, invest in education and healthcare, and ensure that government spending directly impacts the lives of Nigerians by pulling them out of poverty.
“No nation can truly rise when the majority of its people are trapped in poverty. With the right leadership, we can make Nigeria work for every Nigerian.”
