Nigeria, Home To World Poorest People – Theresa May

Prime minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May, says Nigeria is currently home to the highest number of “very poor people” in the world.

May stated this in Cape Town, South Africa today, while adding that Africa is home to many poor people and host a quarter of the world’s displaced people.

She said 87 million Nigerians were living below the poverty line of $1 and 90 cents per day.

“Much of Nigeria is thriving, with many individuals enjoying the fruits of a resurgent economy, yet 87 million Nigerians live below $1 and 90 cents a day, making it home to more very poor people than any other nation in the world,” the UK prime minister said.

Earler in June, Nigeria was named the poverty capital of the world, after it overtook India, according to the Brookings institution.

Nigerian government at the time told Nigerians to disregard the report, stating that the report was compiled at a time Nigeria faced its worst economic recession in 29 years.

May said achieving inclusive growth is a challenge across the world, adding that Africa needs to create 50,000 new jobs per day to keep employment rate at its current level till 2035.

The prime minister said she wants the UK to become the biggest G-7 investor in Africa by 2022, building around shared prosperity and shared security.

“I am unashamed about the need to ensure that our aid program works for the UK,” May said, adding that a healthy African economy is good news for the UK.

“Today I am committing that our development spending will not only combat extreme poverty, but at the same time tackle global challenges and support our own national interest.”

“It is in the world’s interest to see that those jobs are created, to tackle the causes and symptoms of extremism and instability, to deal with migration flows and to encourage clean growth,” she added.

May said the UK is planning to sign a deal with Kenya to ensure the repatriation of stolen Kenyan funds stuck in the UK.

May will be visiting Nigeria later this week.

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