The Nigerian Presidency has strongly pushed back against a recent World Bank report estimating that 139 million Nigerians currently live in poverty.

The government called the figure “unrealistic” and said it misrepresents local economic conditions.

In a statement posted to social media, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, argued that the World Bank’s poverty model is based on outdated metrics and doesn’t capture the complexities of Nigeria’s informal and subsistence economies.

“The figure is based on a global poverty benchmark of $2.15/day, set in 2017 under Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms. When converted to today’s nominal value, it equates to roughly ₦100,000 per month, which is above Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ₦70,000,” Dare said.

He added that the World Bank’s numbers are theoretical projections, not actual real-time headcounts of Nigerians living in poverty.

The Presidency stated that Nigeria is currently on a path of recovery and reform, emphasizing that economic hardship is being tackled through structural policy changes rather than temporary relief.

Key government initiatives highlighted include Conditional Cash Transfers to over 15 million households, with ₦297 billion disbursed since 2023, Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, targeting micro-projects across 8,809 wards, Expanded N-Power, TraderMoni, FarmerMoni, and School Feeding Programmes, Subsidised food distribution and fertiliser access to ease inflation, Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund, supporting housing, roads, and energy as well as National Credit Guarantee Company, enabling access to small business loans.

The Tinubu administration said it’s focused on building a resilient and inclusive economy, correcting decades of neglect and systemic problems.

Structural reforms like fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, while painful, are necessary to stabilize the economy, officials said.

“Even the World Bank acknowledges signs of macroeconomic improvement, rising revenue, stabilizing FX, and easing inflation,” the statement added.

Despite acknowledging Nigeria’s reform efforts, the World Bank expressed concern that poverty continues to rise.

During the release of the October 2025 Nigeria Development Update, Country Director Mathew Verghis said that while Nigeria’s macroeconomic indicators are improving, these gains have yet to translate into better living conditions for most Nigerians.

“Poverty has increased since 2019 and continues to rise. In 2025, we estimate that 139 million Nigerians live in poverty,” Verghis said.

The figure is a significant jump from 129 million in April 2025 and 87 million in 2023.

Opposition parties, labour unions, and analysts reacted with varying degrees of criticism and support.

Tony Akeni of the Labour Party said the poverty figures reflect the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians, claiming government reforms have yet to yield tangible benefits.

Ladipo Johnson of the NNPP warned of growing debt and worsening conditions due to poor policy execution.

Timothy Osadolor of the PDP accused the government of misleading the public, adding, “We don’t need the World Bank to tell us people are hungry.”

Bola Abdullahi of the ADC dismissed the government’s growth claims as meaningless to the average citizen.

Chris Onyeka of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said, “Poverty is not a statistic, it is a lived experience,” lamenting that a ₦70,000 wage barely covers a bag of rice.

Economists acknowledged that reforms are necessary but stress the need for short-term relief measures to ease the impact on citizens.

Muda Yusuf (CPPE) noted that the transition phase of economic recovery has worsened poverty due to inflation.

Prof. Akpan Ekpo called for double-digit, sustained growth and heavy investments in human capital.

Okechukwu Unegbu, a former bank chief, warned against overreliance on World Bank data but admitted that poverty is widespread.

Teslim Shitta-Bey of Proshare said the key challenge is ensuring reform gains benefit ordinary people, calling for more digital and energy infrastructure.

Senate Majority Whip and former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, has boldly declared himself as the most significant political figure from Nigeria’s South-East region, downplaying the influence of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Kalu dismissed suggestions that Obi had become the region’s foremost political leader.

When pressed on whether Igbos should align with Obi ahead of future national elections, Kalu avoided a deep dive, insisting he wouldn’t engage in a serious discussion about Obi unless both were in a live debate setting.

“I’m a member of the APC and I don’t want to discuss Peter Obi. Every time you mention him, I get uncomfortable. I’ve said it before, any time you want to talk about Obi with me, bring him here. Give us two hours, him on one side, me on the other, and we’ll settle it,” Kalu said.

Rejecting the notion that Obi now leads the South-East politically, Kalu asserted that his own record surpasses Obi’s in both impact and reach.

“He’s not my leader. I am the most important politician from that zone,” Kalu said.

He went on to cite his past political accomplishments, including leading the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to victory in two states and securing 4.9 million votes in the 2007 presidential election.

“We did well with PPA. We had ministers, ambassadors, and other key appointments under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua,” he added.

When asked about his future political plans, particularly regarding another presidential run, the senator said age would not be a limiting factor.

“If I’m healthy and God grants me life, I can still contest. Age is not the issue, it’s about competence. It’s about what’s in my brain and what I can deliver,” he said, referencing Donald Trump as an example of older politicians still pursuing leadership.

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has issued a warrant for the arrest and imprisonment of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for defying a court order.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi on Monday, September 29, 2025, came shortly before Yakubu formally stepped down from his role as INEC Chairman.

His successor, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, has since assumed the position in an acting capacity.

The contempt proceedings stem from Yakubu’s and INEC’s failure to comply with a court order directing the restoration of the Rufai Omoaje-led National Executive of the Action Alliance (AA) party to the INEC website.

The party had previously filed a suit, FHC/OS/194/2024, contesting what it described as the unlawful removal of its officials from INEC’s portal.

According to a certified copy of the court order obtained by Vanguard, the plaintiffs, Action Alliance and several of its state chairmen, requested that the court enforce its February 17, 2025 judgement, which mandated INEC to reinstate the names of the executive members.

The court order reads in part:

“The Inspector General of Police is hereby directed to effect the arrest of the Defendants, INEC and Professor Mahmood Yakubu, and initiate committal proceedings for contempt within seven days of this ruling.”

The plaintiffs are also seeking Imprisonment of Yakubu and INEC for contempt, Compliance with the prior judgement, including full recognition of the Omoaje-led NEC and Compensation for financial and reputational harm caused by INEC’s non-compliance.

Additionally, the court awarded ₦100,000 in costs against the defendants in favour of the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs in the suit include Professor Julius Adebowale, Engr. Olowookere Alabi, Barr. Chinwuba Zulyke, Oladele Sunday, Simon Itokwe and Araoye Oyewole, representing themselves and 30 other state chairmen of the Action Alliance.

Engr. Enyivigbo And Governor Mbah,

Hon. Engr. Johncross Enyivigbo, a former Labour Party candidate for the Enugu State House of Assembly has declared his full support for Governor Peter Mbah’s recent move to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a bold and strategic decision for the future of Enugu State.

Engr. Enyivigbo, who contested to represent Igbo Etiti East Constituency in the 2023 general elections, stated that the governor’s defection aligns with the broader interests of the state, especially in attracting federal presence and fostering developmental partnerships.

In a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE on Wednesday, the former candidate lauded Governor Mbah’s leadership style and vision, noting that his decision to join the ruling party at the federal level was a necessary step to unlock greater opportunities for the people of Enugu.

“The move to the APC is not about politics as usual, it is about positioning Enugu State for greater relevance and benefit within the Nigerian federation,” Enyivigbo said.

“As a young leader committed to the progress of my constituency and the state at large, I stand solidly behind Governor Mbah.”

DAILY GAZETTE recall that Engr. Enyivigbo had earlier returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shortly after the 2023 elections in a show of support for Governor Mbah’s leadership and his commitment to inclusive governance.

Now, with the governor’s realignment to the APC, Enyivigbo says he is ready to mobilize grassroots support across Igbo Etiti East and beyond.

“We must rise above partisanship and embrace any platform that offers the best prospects for our people,”

“Governor Mbah has shown courage and I am confident that this new political chapter will bring accelerated growth and development to Enugu.” he added.