Nigerian Governors Are Aiding Poverty In Nigeria – FG

The Federal Government has come out to say that state governors are partly responsible for the rising rate of poverty nationwide.

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba recently had his say while speaking to the press, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, the issue is that our governors are basically functioning in their state capitals, and the democracy that we preach about is delivering the greatest goods to the greatest number of people.

He added that the greatest number of Nigerians live in rural areas, but the governors are not working in the rural areas.

His words, “The governors are basically functioning in their state capitals. And democracy that we preach about is delivering the greatest goods to the greatest number of people. And from our demography, it shows that the greatest number of our people live in rural areas, but the governors are not working in the rural areas.”

“Right now 70 per cent of our people live in rural areas. They produce 90 per cent of what we eat. And unfortunately 60 per cent of what they produce is lost due to post harvest loss and it does not get to the market.”

“I think from the Federal Government’s side we are doing our best. But we need to say that rather than governors continuing to compete to take loans to build airports that are not necessary, where they have other airports so close to them, or governors now competing to build flyovers all over the place, we appeal that they should concentrate on building rural roads so that the farmer can at least get their products to the market.”

“The result clearly shows that 72 per cent of poverty is in the rural areas. It also showed clearly that Sokoto State is leading in poverty with 91 per cent.”

“But the surprising thing is Bayelsa being the second in terms of poverty rating in the country. So, you see the issue is not about availability of money. But it has to do with the application of money.”