Nigeria’s problem is not poverty – Jonathan explains

goodluck-jonathan1

by Akan Ido

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, faulted the World Bank report which placed Nigeria among the five poorest countries in the world, saying “the nation is not poor.’’

Addressing workers at the May Day rally held at the Eagle Square, Abuja, the President said “the challenge of the country is not poverty, but redistribution of wealth.’’

He said that the realities on ground did not portray the country as a poor nation, but a nation which abundant wealth needed to be evenly redistributed.

The President added that his administration was working assiduously and putting policies in place to ensure that Nigerians had access to financial resources to create wealth for themselves.

“Nigeria is not a poor country. Nigerians are the most travelled people. There is no country you go that you will not see Nigerians. The GDP of Nigeria is over half a trillion dollars and the economy is growing at close to 7 per cent.’’

“Aliko Dangote was recently classified among the 25 richest people in the World.

“I visited Kenya recently on a state visit and there was a programme for Nigerian and Kenyan business men to interact and the number of private jets that landed in Nairobi that day was a subject of discussion in Kenyan media for over a week.

“If you talk about ownership of private jets, Nigeria will be among the first 10 countries, yet they are saying that Nigeria is among the five poorest countries.

“Some of you will experience that there is an amount of money you will give to a Nigerian who needs help and will not even regard it and thank you but if you travel to other countries and give such an amount, the person will celebrate.

“But the World Bank statistics shows that Nigeria is among the five poorest countries. Our problem is not poverty, our problem is redistribution of wealth.’’

The President added that “probably wealth is concentrated in very few hands and a number of people do not have access to it and that is why my administration is committed in terms of financial inclusiveness and we are working very hard to achieve this.’’

There you have it, Mr. President doesn’t think Nigeria is a poor country, what do you think?

Comments (6)

  1. What kind of pplz is these? they talk of poverty & poor living of middle-class in Nigeria, d president is talking rubbish. if ALIKO DANGOTE is mismanage his own resourses lyk our president, he won't be among world-richest. how many china, americans, japaniz e.t.c. here in this country? very few! 0.3% but NIGERIAN are all over d world.. bros that is sign of povety.

  2. Yes Nigeria is not poor and the problem of Nigeria is not wealth redistribution, if it is , how did we arrive there as a nation.I believe the major challenge facing Nigeria as a nation is the lack of servant, visionary selfless leadership.With the emergence of purpose driven leaders with a clear sense of direction devoid of corruption, criminal mindedness, Nigeria will emerge as a world superpower in the near future.Again with all due respect to Mr. President, by the way, i love andsupport you sir, but sometime you do present a weak front in terms of your defence that amazes me,while i agree with you that they are many Nigerians with strong purchasing power, you do not quantify a nations wealth by how many people with private jets, that will be a wrong yardstick for measuring wealth, if we have have a thousand Nigerians with private jet, what is that compared to close to two hundred million Nigerians, again i believe is possible to make honest gain in Nigeria, those with the private jet , how did they make the money, are they in one way or another connected to governance, is just a question, honest question, demands an honest answer.I rest my case.

  3. Nigeria is a very poor country to the core,was that a word that should come out of a president of a nation,comparing the likes of people that travel out at their own expense not the country,when you govern a country and the people there in find it difficult to eat a three square meal a day that's enbrassement and a big slap on the nation and with all this happening in our nation you say Nigeria is not poor forget it we are the poorest

  4. When average nigerian are living below 1dollar and u said we are not poor.In usa a cow is fed with at least 2dollar per day so are the world bank not right?

  5. yes nigeria is not poor but it is the leadersihp is vert poor

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