Nigerian Poverty

Poverty level in Nigeria is soaring with an estimated 70 per cent of the population, mostly rural dwellers living on less than $1.25 per day, according to ‘Bishop’ David Oyedepo.

About 50 million Nigerian youths are currently jobless.

“Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources that she has not been able to successfully harness to the benefit of its teeming population,” he said.  “Agriculture is the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy, employing approximately two-thirds of the country total labour force and contributing 40 percent to gross domestic product (GDP). Nigeria was ranked 40th out of 79 on the GHI and 156 out of 187 on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 2011 human index development. According to the data from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), 2012, poverty is widespread in the rural areas, where 80 percent of the population live below poverty line.”