Nigerians Urge Govts To Tackle Poverty

As the world marks the Poverty Eradication Day, Nigerians want governments at all levels in the country to adopt serious measures to tackle the menace posed by poverty.

A cross section of Nigerians who spoke with our correspondent in Abuja, said that the government’s poverty eradication progammes had not achieved the desired results.

Mr Aniegbe Cornelius, a businessman in Wuse Market, said that there had not been changes in the country’s economy as corruption was still very high.

“The major problem the country is facing is corruption; until government stops corruption by arresting and prosecuting those involved, poverty cannot be eradicated. “

Mr Benjamin Ajah, also a businessman, said although the government’s poverty eradication programme was good, it had not been properly executed to impact on the poor. According to him, shops in Wuse Market are “very expensive to rent while returns are too low to sustain the payment of the exorbitant rent”.

A member of the National Youth Service Corps, Emeka Ozalagbe, argued that poverty was on the increase because of the high level of employment while many poor people lacked access to loans.

He urged the government to stop the importation of foreign goods and make use of made in Nigeria products in order to boost employment opportunities.

Ozalagbe also urged the government to get the banks to give job seekers permanent appointments, instead of relying on contract staff.