Obi Accuses APC Government of Sending 50 Million Nigerians into Poverty

… Cites World Bank Data

LAGOS – The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has launched a searing critique of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government, stating its policies have “impoverished several million Nigerians in just two years.” His comments follow a recent World Bank report revealing a dramatic surge in poverty levels across the country.

In a statement released on Monday, Obi highlighted data from the World Bank’s October 8, 2025 report, which indicates that 139 million Nigerians are now living in poverty. This marks an alarming increase of 52 million people from the 87 million reported in 2023, when President Bola Tinubu was sworn into office.

“What this means is that in two years under the watch of the APC regime, over 50 million Nigerians were sent into poverty,” Obi stated. “This is a heartbreaking reflection of how deeply our nation is failing its citizens.”

The former governor expressed profound concern that the report’s “devastating revelation” has not prompted a national emergency or a focused discussion on poverty eradication. Instead, he noted, it has been met with government rebuttals. “The news already reflects the daily struggles of the ordinary Nigerian,” Obi added, suggesting a disconnect between the government’s response and the lived reality of citizens.

He further pointed out that the World Bank report confirms that “despite the many celebrated reforms,” Nigeria’s poverty rate continues to climb, cementing the country’s position as “the most poverty-stricken nation in the world.”

Obi attributed the failure of these reforms to a “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.”

Outlining a path forward, the Labour Party stalwart argued that effective reforms must be “deliberate and strictly followed by people-focused policies.” He called for a national strategy that prioritizes production over consumption, provides robust support for small businesses and farmers, and directs investment towards critical sectors like education and healthcare.

He emphasized that government spending must have a direct and tangible impact on lifting citizens out of poverty. “No nation can truly rise when the majority of its its people are trapped in poverty,” Obi concluded. “With the right leadership, we can make Nigeria work for every Nigerian. A New Nigeria is POssible.”

The statement is expected to intensify the ongoing national debate on the economic impact of the administration’s policies, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market.