Nigeria, home to poorest people in the world – PM Theresa May
United Kingdom Prime Minister, Theresa May says Nigeria is home to the highest number of poor people in the world, with 87 million of her citizens living below $1.90 a day.
She said this ahead of her much anticipated visit to Nigeria, Wednesday, August 29th (today).
Prime Minister May lamented the rate of poverty in the African continent, in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday, expressing particular concerns about the Nigerian plight.
Although she praised the country’s economy for be a thriving one, she also complained about the worrying number of poor people living in the country.
She said, “Most of the world’s poorest people are Africans. And increasing wealth has brought rising inequality, both between and within nations.
“For example, much of Nigeria is thriving, with many individuals enjoying the fruits of a resurgent economy. Yet 87 million Nigerians live on less than $1.90 a day – making it home to more very poor people than any other nation in the world.”
May will meet President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, on Wednesday, (today), and also spend some time in Lagos where she is expected to visit victims of modern slavery. She will conclude her trip to Africa with a visit to Kenya.
The current estimate of poor people that live in Nigeria was released by the World Poverty Clock in June with 44.2 percent of its current estimated 196 million population being poor.
