Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has called for policies that prioritise the immediate needs of Nigerians, warning that hunger and poverty have reached alarming levels across the country.
In a statement on Sunday, Obi lamented that millions of Nigerians now face acute food insecurity, with families slipping into poverty due to what he described as “incompetent leadership without capacity and compassion.”
Quoting United Nations data, he said about 34 million Nigerians are projected to face acute food insecurity, while 63% of the population — roughly 133 million people — live in multidimensional poverty. Inflation, he added, is nearing 30% even with “suppressed statistics,” while unemployment and economic mismanagement have eroded the middle class.
Obi compared Nigeria’s current economic situation to that of Argentina, where over 52% of the population lived in poverty by early 2024, with inflation above 200%. He noted that within two years of decisive reforms, Argentina’s leadership cut the poverty rate to 38.1%, reduced extreme poverty to 8.2%, and brought monthly inflation down to about 2–3%. By 2025, urban poverty had dropped to 31.6%, investor confidence had grown, and citizens saw tangible improvements in their daily lives.
Both Argentina’s president and Nigeria’s current leadership, Obi pointed out, assumed office in the same year, stressing that while two years may not completely transform a nation, it is sufficient to “kickstart the transformation journey” if leaders are honest, focused, and committed to the people.
He argued that Nigeria can reduce hunger and restore dignity to its citizens by tackling corruption, cutting the cost of governance, and prioritising education, healthcare, and poverty reduction.
“Nigeria will work, but only if we, as leaders, commit to tackling corruption, cutting the cost of governance, and focusing on critical areas of development,” Obi said. “A New Nigeria is possible.”