By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticized the Presidency for dismissing concerns raised by the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, about Nigeria’s worsening poverty levels.
In a statement on Monday, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, described the Presidency’s response as “childish” and “politically twisted,” accusing it of deflecting from the harsh realities faced by Nigerians.
Adesina, during a recent event in Lagos, stated that Nigeria’s per capita income had dropped from $1,847 in 1960 to $824 today, indicating that Nigerians were poorer now than at independence.
However, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disputed the figures, claiming Nigeria’s GDP per capita in 1960 was $93 and only improved in the 1970s due to oil revenue.
HURIWA urged President Bola Tinubu to acknowledge the alarming poverty rates instead of denying them.
The group cited a World Bank report revealing that over 75% of rural Nigerians live below the poverty line, with urban poverty at 41.3%.
Onwubiko argued that Nigeria in the 1960s had better infrastructure, education, and job opportunities compared to today’s economic struggles, worsened by corruption and poor governance.
He questioned why the Presidency was disputing Adesina’s assessment instead of addressing the crisis.
HURIWA called for urgent action to tackle poverty, inflation, and insecurity, warning that continued denial would only deepen the suffering of Nigerians.