141 million Nigerians trapped in poverty as politicians battle for power — Peter Obi

Former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has warned that Nigeria’s poverty crisis is worsening, lamenting that the country is regressing while politicians remain preoccupied with power struggles and control of party structures.

In a statement issued yesterday, Obi said about 141 million Nigerians—representing 62 percent of the population—are currently living in poverty, describing the situation as a serious national failure and a looming danger to the country’s future.

“As we politicians scramble for positions and vie for control of party structures, often sharing posts even before elections are concluded, a harsh truth confronts our nation: a staggering 62 percent of Nigerians, roughly 141 million people, are ensnared in poverty,” Obi said.

He referenced World Bank data to illustrate the scale of the crisis, noting that the number of Nigerians living in poverty rose from 81 million in 2019 to about 139 million in 2025.

According to him, the situation deteriorated sharply within a single year, with poverty figures jumping from 115 million in 2023 to 129 million in 2024, pushing an additional 14 million Nigerians into hardship.

“Projections for 2026 suggest that this figure will reach around 141 million, meaning an additional 26 million Nigerians will be thrust into poverty between 2023 and 2026.

“It is estimated that by 2026, an overwhelming 141 million people, 62 percent of the population, will be living in poverty.

“Low-income households are especially at risk, as food constitutes up to 70 percent of their total spending, leaving them acutely vulnerable to food inflation and price shocks.

“A sustained increase in poverty could unravel public finances, erode human capital, and impede economic recovery unless we see robust job creation, productivity growth, and effective social protection programs,” Obi said.

He added that poverty levels in Nigeria have climbed from about 40 percent in 2000 to 62 percent today, underscoring a long-term decline.

“By 2025, while India and Bangladesh surged to 0.685, and Indonesia rose to 0.74, Nigeria languished at 0.53, remaining entrenched in the low human development category after 25 years.

“The fact that 141 million Nigerians are living in poverty is not merely a national failure, it is a blatant threat to our future. The time for complacency has passed,” he stated.

Obi slams NFF over unpaid Super Eagles allowances

In a related development, Obi criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the reported failure to pay match allowances owed to players of the Super Eagles, describing it as an embarrassment that exposes the country’s misplaced priorities.

Reacting to reports that players were still owed agreed bonuses despite their strong performances, Obi said the situation was unacceptable.

“Can we get through a day without troubling news in this country?” Obi asked.

“At a time when Nigerians need joy and unity, something the national football team, the Super Eagles, has been providing by winning matches and lifting our spirits worldwide, these same players are being denied their basic match allowances,” he said.

He contrasted the unpaid allowances with what he described as the ease with which large public funds are written off or spent on projects that bring little benefit to ordinary citizens.

“A country that writes off trillions in debts for government agencies and political allies, and squanders money on grandiose, self-serving projects, now struggles to pay the basic match bonuses owed to our players,” Obi said.

“Nigeria deserves a better international image than this ongoing failure to honor previously agreed-upon allowances before the tournament.

“The Super Eagles do not deserve this embarrassment or the avoidable distractions ahead of a crucial quarter-final match,” he added.

Obi stressed that the matter goes beyond sports, insisting that national credibility depends on honoring commitments.

“Nigeria must learn to fulfill its obligations,” he said.

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