Economic growth is meaningless if citizens are getting poorer, Peter Obi says

Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi criticised the country’s economic situation in a post on X on Saturday, marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. He said poverty had risen from 40.1% in 2019 to 56.2% in 2023 and was projected to reach 63% in 2026, while millions struggle to afford food and healthcare. Obi argued that progress should be judged by improvements in people’s living conditions and called for greater investment in education, healthcare, agriculture and small businesses. He also said competent leadership and prudent management of public resources could reverse the trend.