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World Bank report: Northern Nigeria worse hit by bad economy, poverty – Shehu, Bello, others 

The World Bank on Wednesday expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s worsening poverty level, revealing that despite recent economic stabilisation efforts, about 139 million citizens are now living in poverty. The Bank warned that the country risks losing the gains of its ongoing reforms if they fail to bring real improvements to the lives of ordinary
World Bank report: Northern Nigeria worse hit by bad economy, poverty – Shehu, Bello, others 

The World Bank on Wednesday expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s worsening poverty level, revealing that despite recent economic stabilisation efforts, about 139 million citizens are now living in poverty.

The Bank warned that the country risks losing the gains of its ongoing reforms if they fail to bring real improvements to the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

The disclosure was made by World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, on Wednesday in Abuja during the launch of the October 2025 Nigeria Development Update titled “From Policy to People: Bringing the Reform Gains Home.”

Since the release of the report, reactions have continued to trail the findings from various quarters, civil activists, opposition parties, and the Nigerian government itself.

While many Nigerians say the report mirrors the harsh realities of daily life, the Presidency has strongly disputed the World Bank’s figures, describing them as unrealistic and disconnected from the country’s actual economic conditions.

In a statement issued on Thursday through President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, the government said the poverty statistics must be properly contextualised within the framework of global poverty measurement models.

“While Nigeria values its partnership with the World Bank and appreciates its contributions to policy analysis, the figure quoted must be properly contextualised. It is unrealistic,” Dare wrote on his official X account.

The Presidency explained that the 139 million poverty estimate was derived from the global poverty line of $2.15 per person per day, which was set in 2017 using the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) model.

According to the government, this should not be seen as an exact count of Nigerians living in poverty.

It further argued that when converted to local currency, the global poverty line of $2.15 per day amounts to about ₦100,000 per month, a figure that surpasses Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ₦70,000, making it an analytical construct rather than a real-time reflection of income realities.

“President Tinubu’s administration is committed to reducing the incidence of poverty. Nigeria rejects exaggerated statistical interpretations detached from local realities,” the presidency had said.

However, not everyone agrees with the government’s position, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in a statement on Thursday urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to accept the recent World Bank report showing a sharp rise in poverty across Nigeria.

According to ADC, it is clear proof that his administration’s economic policies have worsened the living conditions of millions of citizens.

North has been reduced below level of slaves – Mahdi Shehu 

Civil rights activist, Mahdi Shehu, described the recent World Bank report as a reflection of the harsh reality that citizens have been living through for years.

In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Thursday, Shehu said the report did not come as a surprise to those who understand what Nigerians have been going through, especially since 2015.

“Yesterday’s assertion by the World Bank that 139 million Nigerians are facing acute hunger is not news to those who know what Nigerians have been going through, particularly from 2015 to date,” he said.

Shehu added that the hunger figure only represents a small portion of the bigger tragedy unfolding in the country.

“Add this figure to over 30 million out-of-school children, over 600 children dying daily from acute malnutrition, the growing unemployment rate, and you will understand the bigger picture of the current despair, despondency, decay, and hopelessness in Nigeria,” he stated.

According to him, Nigeria has now become a place where everybody is on his own, everybody for himself, God for us all, survival of the fittest and the devil take the hindmost.

The activist blamed years of poor leadership and misplaced priorities for the worsening poverty, especially in the northern part of the country.

He said the North has become the worst victim of economic dispossession and social collapse.

“The worst hit in terms of economic dispossession is the northern part of Nigeria, where over 80 percent of the population have been pushed into permanent, irreversible economic bondage,” Shehu lamented.

He said this condition has led to broken homes, malnutrition, increasing deaths from preventable diseases, hopelessness, and a complete breakdown of values and ethics.

Speaking further, Shehu said democracy has brought nothing but pain and misery to people in the region.

“For the northern part of Nigeria, democracy means nothing to them. It is a system that has decimated them, destroyed their cohesion, trade, and commerce, ruined their well-being, and reduced them to the level below that of slaves in a country where they are said to be citizens,” he said.

He faulted political leaders for neglecting the poor while enriching themselves, adding that the situation has left ordinary Nigerians feeling abandoned and betrayed.

“The leaders live in comfort and luxury while the people suffer in silence. What we have now is not democracy; it is a system of oppression sustained by hunger, fear, and deceit,” he concluded.

Rejecting report is injustice to the poor – Bello

Hon. Jafar Sani Bello, a politician and public affairs analyst in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Thursday said that dismissing the recent poverty report released by a reputable international organization would amount to an injustice and an insult to millions of poor Nigerians who are directly affected by the country’s economic hardship.

According to him, the report, though ugly and unpalatable, reflects the harsh reality faced by many Nigerians, especially in the northern region.

“It’s a report from a reputable organization, and despite its ugly and unpalatable look, we have to accept it and look for ways and means to bring succor to those captured in the web,” Bello said.

“Dismissing the report will amount to a grave injustice and insult to those affected.”

He explained that the northern region has been hit the hardest by poverty, owing to several economic and security challenges.

“I believe the North is adversely affected, and there are numerous factors responsible for this,” he said.

“The importation policy of the admission of agricultural staple foods like rice and maize, and the exorbitant high cost of fertilizer, have made things worse.”

Bello noted that most northern farmers now struggle to stay afloat as the cost of production far outweighs the selling price of their produce.

“The prices of the produce do not justify the production cost on the farmers, majority of whom are northerners,” he said.

“This, coupled with the adverse effect of insecurity that has ravaged the North with no respite in sight, has worsened the economic state of affairs in the region.”

World Bank report: Northern Nigeria worse hit by bad economy, poverty – Shehu, Bello, others 

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Presidential pardon on Ken Saro-Wiwa, others true step to reconciliation, justice – Dighi

President Bola Tinubu’s pardon to Ken Saro-Wiwa, among other Nigerians, is a significant step towards reconciliation and justice, Comrade Matthew Dighi, a Niger Delta leader, has stated. DAILY POST recalls that President Tinubu, on Thursday, granted pardon to 175 Nigerians, including members of the Ogoni 9 and Ogoni 4, among whom the late Saro-Wiwa is
Presidential pardon on Ken Saro-Wiwa, others true step to reconciliation, justice – Dighi

President Bola Tinubu’s pardon to Ken Saro-Wiwa, among other Nigerians, is a significant step towards reconciliation and justice, Comrade Matthew Dighi, a Niger Delta leader, has stated.

DAILY POST recalls that President Tinubu, on Thursday, granted pardon to 175 Nigerians, including members of the Ogoni 9 and Ogoni 4, among whom the late Saro-Wiwa is prominently featured.

In a statement issued Friday morning, signed by Comrade Matthew Dighi, Chairman, Central Working Committee, 2025 All Nigerian Ethnic Nationalities Youth Conference cum 30th Anniversary of Ken Saro-Wiwa and Mazi Chidiebere Nwodo, Esq, the Secretary, they extended gratitude to Tinubu for the honour.

The group said the presidential pardon “marks a significant step towards reconciliation and justice for the many whose voices have been silenced unjustly.”

The youth organizations also used the opportunity to throw their weight behind the proposed National Forest Guards.

“We commend the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his proposed initiative to establish Forest Guards.

“This initiative represents a proactive approach towards bolstering national security, aimed at combating the pressing issues of crime and kidnapping that plague our forests.

“We, the youth of Nigeria, stand resolutely in support of this initiative, pledging our commitment to contribute to the security and safety of our communities,” they stated.

On the Ken Saro-Wiwa 30th anniversary, they disclosed that owing to recent discussions and thorough consultations with relevant stakeholders, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and leaders from the Ogoni community, “the 2025 All Nigerian Ethnic Nationalities Youth Conference and the 30th Anniversary of Ken Saro-Wiwa has been rescheduled to November 7, 2025.”

Dighi, who put security agencies on high alert against impostors, urged the public to disregard any announcements regarding the occurrence of the event on October 10, 2025.

“It is imperative to note that no individual or group has the authorization from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to organize or conduct this event on any date other than November 7, 2025.

“We call upon all security agencies to take note of this announcement and to be alert to any potential disruptions relating to unauthorized events,” he stated.

Presidential pardon on Ken Saro-Wiwa, others true step to reconciliation, justice – Dighi

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SSANU KWASU chapter joins nationwide protest

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Kwara State University, Malete, on Thursday, joined their counterparts across the country in the nationwide peaceful protest to press their demands for better welfare. Speaking during the protest, the branch Chairman, Comrade Abdulsalam Jimoh Kannike, said the action followed the directive of the Joint Action
SSANU KWASU chapter joins nationwide protest

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Kwara State University, Malete, on Thursday, joined their counterparts across the country in the nationwide peaceful protest to press their demands for better welfare.

Speaking during the protest, the branch Chairman, Comrade Abdulsalam Jimoh Kannike, said the action followed the directive of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU.

Comrade Kannike declared that workers’ patience must not be mistaken for weakness.

He listed the union’s key demands to include the implementation of the 2009 FGN Agreement, payment of wage and allowance arrears, and an end to the usurpation of non-teaching roles by the academic staff.

Comrade Kannike appreciated the KWASU management for its peaceful disposition, noting that the protest was not against the university but part of a nationwide struggle for fairness and equity.

The protest ended peacefully with members chanting solidarity songs and reaffirming their commitment to the struggle for workers’ rights.

SSANU KWASU chapter joins nationwide protest

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Nnamdi Kanu:  It’s shocking, scandalous – Mahdi Shehu faults Nigerian govt for abandoning agitator 

Renowned activist and public affairs commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has condemned the National Council of State for excluding the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from the list of Nigerians considered for clemency, amnesty, and pardon. In a post shared on X on Thursday, Shehu described the decision as a
Nnamdi Kanu:  It’s shocking, scandalous – Mahdi Shehu faults Nigerian govt for abandoning agitator 

Renowned activist and public affairs commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has condemned the National Council of State for excluding the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from the list of Nigerians considered for clemency, amnesty, and pardon.

In a post shared on X on Thursday, Shehu described the decision as a fundamental flaw and an act of insensitivity.

He accused the council of double standards.

According to him, the Council of State’s decision to grant clemency to various individuals, both dead and alive, without a single mention of Kanu, was shocking, scandalous, and deliberate.

“Shockingly, surprisingly, scandalously, and deliberately, not a single mention or reference was made about Mazi Kanu,” Shehu said. 

“No single member of the council from the South-East made even a mute attempt to mention his case. They were all silent as if destroyed by Tinubu’s thunder, lightning, and political tsunami.”

The activist insisted that Kanu should not even be a candidate for clemency or pardon because he has not been convicted of any offence.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Kanu is not a candidate for clemency, pardon, amnesty, pity, or compassion because he is not a convict,” Shehu wrote.

“The Council of State should have directed the Attorney General of the Federation to terminate Kanu’s trial by way of nolle prosequi.”

Shehu expressed concern that individuals who once took up arms against the Nigerian state, destroyed national assets, and killed citizens now walk freely, hold public office, and even enjoy national honours.

“People who had taken arms against the state, destroyed national assets, killed, maimed, and incapacitated both foreigners and citizens are moving around freely with armed guards. Some have been elected as lawmakers, others are holding public offices, and many more are influential government contractors and consultants,” he lamented.

He faulted the silence of South-East governors and political leaders, accusing them of complicity in Kanu’s continued detention.

“Ignoring Mazi Kanu and scheming him out with the help and support of Igbo serving governors and influential politicians from the South-East means Nigerians are not ready for peace through dialogue,” Shehu said.

The activist argued that if members of groups such as Boko Haram, Niger Delta militants, and Fulani militias could be forgiven, rehabilitated, and reintegrated into society, then Kanu’s release should be treated as a fundamental right rather than an act of mercy.

“If Boko Haram killer groups, Niger Delta killer networks, and killer Fulani militias are being pardoned, compensated, trained, and integrated into communities, then the release of Kanu has graduated to a right, not a favour,” he added.

Nnamdi Kanu:  It’s shocking, scandalous – Mahdi Shehu faults Nigerian govt for abandoning agitator