Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has said that the country is sliding backwards as politicians remain fixated on power struggles and control of party structures.
Obi said on Thursday, that about 141 million Nigerians, 62 percent of the population, are now living in poverty, describing the situation as a grave national failure and a threat to the country’s future.
He also says the World Bank data shows a sharp rise in poverty levels in recent years, noting that the number of Nigerians living in poverty increased from 81 million in 2019 to approximately 139 million in 2025.
Obi further said that the projections for 2026 suggest that this figure will reach around 141 million, meaning an additional 26 million Nigerians will be driven into poverty between 2023 and 2026.