The Presidency has dismissed the World Bank’s latest economic report, which claimed that about 139 million Nigerians are living in poverty, describing the figures as inaccurate and not reflective of the nation’s current economic realities.In a statement on Wednesday, presidential officials criticised the report released by the global financial institution, arguing that it failed to capture the government’s recent poverty alleviation efforts and economic reforms aimed at improving citizens’ welfare.
They maintained that ongoing social intervention programmes, agricultural investments, and job creation initiatives have significantly improved living conditions across the country.“The World Bank’s numbers are not only exaggerated but also detached from the socioeconomic progress being recorded,” a senior government source said, insisting that the report does not reflect data from local agencies such as the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The Presidency reaffirmed its commitment to reducing poverty and boosting economic growth through targeted reforms, while urging international partners to rely on verified domestic data when assessing Nigeria’s development indicators.