Vice-President,Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday disclosed that about 110 million Nigerians are living in poverty, stressing that two-tenth of the figure were in extreme poverty.
The Vice President said this during an event hosted by the President of Ghana, Mr. John Mahama, on Africa and Sustainable Development Goals on the sidelines the African Union meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.
Representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the summit, Osinbajo said the current administration, in a bid to address the poverty level in Nigeria, initiated what he described as the largest social protection programme in the history of the country.
According to Osinbajo, “In Nigeria, in the current budget cycle, we have the largest social protection programme in the history of the country. It’s a N500bn programme-(worth over $2.5bnas at the time budget was signed.)
“Basically, we are looking at lifting many out of poverty, of course many are familiar with the size of the Nigerian state and we have close to hundred and ten million people who are poor and about two-tenth are in extreme poverty.
“So it is a very huge problem and part of what we are trying to do is to look at how not just to empower people but also to ensure that what they are given is sustainable.
“For the women, we are doing a programme, micro-credit programme for a million market women and artisans.
“All would be given facilities, training facilities as well to enable them to be able to do some work for themselves and to continue to be able to live.”
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday averred about 110 million Nigerians are living in poverty, stressing that two-tenth of the figure were in extreme poverty.
The Vice President said this during an event hosted by the President of Ghana, Mr. John Mahama, on Africa and Sustainable Development Goals on the sidelines the African Union meeting in Kigali, Rwanda
Representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the summit, Osinbajo said the current administration in a bid to address the poverty level in Nigeria, initiated what he described as the largest social protection programme in the history of the country.
According to Osinbajo, “In Nigeria, in the current budget cycle, we have the largest social protection programme in the history of the country. It’s a N500bn programme-(worth over $2.5bnas at the time budget was signed.)
“Basically, we are looking at lifting many out of poverty, of course many are familiar with the size of the Nigerian state and we have close to hundred and ten million people who are poor and about two-tenth are in extreme poverty.
“So it is a very huge problem and part of what we are trying to do is to look at how not just to empower people but also to ensure that what they are given is sustainable.
“For the women, we are doing a programme, micro-credit programme for a million market women and artisans.
“All would be given facilities, training facilities as well to enable them to be able to do some work for themselves and to continue to be able to live.”
