88.4m Nigerians living in extreme poverty – Permanent Secretary

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Temitope Fadeshemi says 88.4 million Nigerians are living in extreme poverty.

Fadeshemi spoke on Wednesday in Kaduna during the distribution of farm inputs and empowerment materials to 250 smallholder farmers.

He was represented by Bashir Abdulkadir, Director, Department of Extension Services of the ministry.

The gestures were extended to the farmers under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).

“The level of poverty in Nigeria is alarming. An estimated population of 88.4 million people in Nigeria is living in extreme poverty.

“The number of men living on less than 1.90 U.S. dollars a day in the country reached around 44.7 million, while the count was at 43.7 million for women.

“Overall, 12.9 per cent of the global population in extreme poverty was found in Nigeria as of 2022.

“This is why the Federal government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning in collaboration with FMAFS is making conscious efforts at reducing the spate of poverty across the country,” Fadeshemi said.

According to him, the event marked a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s collective commitment to uplifting the lives of smallholder farmers and fostering sustainable agricultural practices.

NAN