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World Bank: 139 Million Nigerians in Poverty Despite Tinubu Reforms; Presidency Rejects Report
ABUJA — A new World Bank report has revealed that about 139 million Nigerians, representing 62% of the country’s population, are living below the global poverty line of $2.15 per day. The figure marks an increase from 129 million earlier this year, despite President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms aimed at stabilizing Nigeria’s economy.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the report, poverty has continued to deepen, particularly in rural communities where an estimated 75.5% of people now live below the poverty threshold. The World Bank warned that unless stronger social safety programs are implemented, the country risks facing a more severe poverty crisis in the coming years.
The bank attributed the worsening situation to rising inflation, reduced purchasing power, and food insecurity, all of which have hit low-income households the hardest. Over the past six years, the institution said, around 58 million Nigerians have slipped into poverty, underscoring the widening gap between the rich and the poor.
President Tinubu’s administration, which came into power in May 2023, introduced a series of economic measures including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the exchange rate. While these policies have been praised internationally for promoting macroeconomic stability, they have also triggered higher living costs and growing discontent among Nigerians struggling to afford basic needs.
In response, the Nigerian Presidency rejected the World Bank’s findings, describing them as misleading and based on outdated data. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the report relied on figures from the 2018–2019 Nigeria Living Standards Survey, which, according to him, no longer reflects the current realities.
“The data used in the World Bank’s poverty report are obsolete and do not represent Nigeria’s present situation,” Onanuga said in a statement. “Our government measures poverty using a national threshold of N137,430 annual consumption per person. Based on that benchmark, the poverty rate is significantly lower than what the World Bank claims.”
He added that the government is collaborating with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and development partners to conduct an updated survey that will provide a more accurate picture of the country’s poverty situation. Onanuga maintained that President Tinubu’s reforms are already laying the foundation for long-term economic growth, even though their immediate effects may be painful.
Meanwhile, analysts argue that while Tinubu’s policies are structurally sound, the lack of immediate support for vulnerable groups has worsened hardship across communities. Many economists have called for urgent intervention through targeted cash transfers, agricultural support, and affordable credit programs to cushion the impact of inflation.
The World Bank, in its report, echoed similar concerns, urging Nigeria to strengthen its social protection framework to prevent millions more from falling below the poverty line. It also emphasized the need for better data collection to guide future policy decisions.
Despite differing views between the World Bank and the Nigerian government, both agree that addressing poverty remains one of Nigeria’s biggest challenges. As inflation continues to surge and food prices rise, the debate over how best to measure and reduce poverty is likely to intensify in the months ahead.
Bamidele Kehinde, Director of Dynamic Ambassadors for Social Orientation Initiatives and the City Transformation Project, has expressed appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria for its efforts in securing the release of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who was reportedly held in detention in the Republic of Benin for over two years under difficult conditions.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Pastor Egbaji, a Nigerian cleric, was said to have endured harsh treatment during his detention, including prolonged confinement. His release followed a presidential pardon granted by the authorities in Benin Republic under President Patrice Talon.
Speaking on News Central TV, Dr. Kehinde praised the diplomatic efforts that led to the cleric’s freedom, describing the process as lengthy and challenging. He noted that significant progress was achieved after Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
He stated that although there was no personal connection or financial influence involved, the minister actively engaged Benin Republic authorities through diplomatic channels. According to him, her visit and negotiations played a key role in securing Pastor Egbaji’s release.
Dr. Kehinde also commended all individuals and institutions that contributed to the advocacy efforts, including Moses Eyo, Dickson Umu Unung, the Cross River State Government, CP Alobi Lawrence (rtd), Joseph Bisong Ayi, Blessing Harrison, Eze Sampson, and Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo.
He said their combined efforts were instrumental in achieving the cleric’s freedom.
He added that while Egbaji’s release is a major relief, the cleric now faces the task of recovering and rebuilding his life after years of hardship. He called for continued support to help him reintegrate into society.
Dr. Kehinde also urged stronger government commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens abroad and enhancing diplomatic engagement across West Africa to prevent similar cases in the future.
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has provided an update on its ongoing nationwide recruitment exercise.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The board stated that 1,120,491 applications were successfully completed and processed, allowing candidates to proceed to the computer-based test (CBT) stage.
It also disclosed that 432,935 applications were left incomplete, while 360,923 applicants were disqualified during screening and shortlisting for failing to meet the required criteria.
In total, the recruitment exercise recorded over 1.8 million applications across the country.
The exercise covers agencies under the board, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Correctional Service.
CDCFIB also released a breakdown of CBT performance, showing that 221,996 candidates scored between 0–40, 229,155 scored between 41–60, 278,543 scored between 61–80, while 142,697 scored between 81–100.
The recruitment process is now expected to move to the next stage, which includes physical screening and document verification. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with details of their screening venues, dates, and required documents.
The board reiterated that the entire process is free of charge and advised applicants to rely only on official communication channels for updates, warning against misinformation and unauthorized messages circulating online.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted precise airstrikes in the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest, resulting in the elimination of several terrorist elements on Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, who noted that military operations in the North-East continue to maintain strong pressure on insurgent groups.
He explained that the operation was based on credible intelligence, supported by Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities, which identified active terrorist presence within fortified positions and underground hideouts.
According to him, NAF air platforms successfully engaged the targets using precision-guided munitions, destroying the structures, neutralising multiple terrorists, and dismantling key logistics facilities. This was later confirmed through battle damage assessments.
The statement added that sustained air operations have continued to weaken terrorist networks, disrupting their activities and forcing them into more defensive and unstable responses.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, also reiterated the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining continuous, intelligence-driven operations aimed at completely neutralising terrorist threats.
He further assured that the NAF remains focused on protecting its personnel, safeguarding national security, and ensuring the safety of citizens, while continuing precision operations in line with strict rules of engagement to minimise civilian impact.
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