Podium ReportersPodium Reporters
  • Home
  • News
  • Economy
    • Global
    • Nigerian
  • Education
  • Politics
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Europe
    • Finance
    • Nigeria
    • US & Canada
    • World
  • Science
    • Health
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
      • Comedy
      • Ent & Arts
      • Film & Drama
      • Music
      • videos
    • Homes
    • Luxury
    • Media & Culture
  • Sports
  • Others
    • About us
    • Get In Touch

Subscribe to Updates

Get daily mail of the latest news from the Podium Reporters

[email-subscribers-form id="1"]
What's new

Victory not just mine, but every Lagosian — Sanwo-Olu

20 March 2023

INEC declares Sanwo-Olu winner of Lagos Guber polls

20 March 2023

24 hours to Lagos Guber polls, leadership dispute over LP ‘legitimate’ candidate lingers

17 March 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Victory not just mine, but every Lagosian — Sanwo-Olu
  • INEC declares Sanwo-Olu winner of Lagos Guber polls
  • 24 hours to Lagos Guber polls, leadership dispute over LP ‘legitimate’ candidate lingers
  • FIRS Signs MoU with UK’s HM Revenue and Customs For Collaboration On Capacity Building
  • NASS leadership: Group roots for Hon. Sada Soli as Reps Speaker
  • Leaked letter from Tinubu’s camp shows president-elect wants to build bridges, reconcile aggrieved individuals
  • ‘Defeat, part of politics; perish thought of self-exile’, Tinubu tells Bode George
  • Accord Party abandons LP, endorses Sanwo-Olu for second term
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Monday, March 20
Podium ReportersPodium Reporters
Demo
  • Home
  • News
  • Economy
    • Global
    • Nigerian
  • Education
  • Politics
    1. Asia
    2. Africa
    3. Europe
    4. Finance
    5. Nigeria
    6. US & Canada
    7. World
    8. View All

    ISWAP KINGPINS ALI KWAYA, BUKAR MAINOKA AND OTHERS NEUTRALIZED IN NAF AIR STRIKES AT BELOWA NEAR LAKE CHAD

    7 November 2022

    End of the road for Odinga as Supreme Court affirms Ruto’s victory

    5 September 2022

    Gov. Sanwo-Olu named Tuberculosis eradication champion, rolls out state plans for TB

    26 August 2022

    Ghana Cedi confirmed world’s worst-performing currency as country battles worsening economic crisis

    18 August 2022

    Breaking: Queen Elizabeth II is dead

    8 September 2022

    Naira redesign to have positive impact on the economy – Experts

    27 October 2022

    FG will stop paying petrol subsidy June 2023 – Minister

    22 August 2022

    Victory not just mine, but every Lagosian — Sanwo-Olu

    20 March 2023

    INEC declares Sanwo-Olu winner of Lagos Guber polls

    20 March 2023

    24 hours to Lagos Guber polls, leadership dispute over LP ‘legitimate’ candidate lingers

    17 March 2023

    ‘Defeat, part of politics; perish thought of self-exile’, Tinubu tells Bode George

    15 March 2023

    Ogun Amotekun arrest man with bloodstained pants

    13 October 2022

    UNGA77: I’ll leave behind credible election in 2023 – Buhari 

    22 September 2022

    Buhari pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

    9 September 2022

    Victory not just mine, but every Lagosian — Sanwo-Olu

    20 March 2023

    INEC declares Sanwo-Olu winner of Lagos Guber polls

    20 March 2023

    24 hours to Lagos Guber polls, leadership dispute over LP ‘legitimate’ candidate lingers

    17 March 2023

    NASS leadership: Group roots for Hon. Sada Soli as Reps Speaker

    16 March 2023
  • Science
    1. Health
    2. View All

    Kogi Reference Hospital: Yahaya Bello’s Pure Genius

    28 April 2022

    Kwara hosts 22 APC States’ meeting on improving healthcare access

    26 August 2021

    Distinction: Sanwo-Olu Gets A+ Rating In Covid-19, Security, Infrastructure – Report

    10 August 2021

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Coronavirus Press Statement

    11 July 2021

    FACT CHECK: Video of Elon Musk endorsing Obi fake, part of dangerous disinformation campaign

    31 August 2022

    Metaverse ecosystem market to hit $2t by 2030

    3 August 2022

    Navigating Virtual Market in an African Context by Babatunde Adekanmbi

    10 July 2022

    Kogi Reference Hospital: Yahaya Bello’s Pure Genius

    28 April 2022
  • Lifestyle
    1. Entertainment
    2. Comedy
    3. Ent & Arts
    4. Film & Drama
    5. Music
    6. videos
    7. Homes
    8. Luxury
    9. Media & Culture
    10. View All

    ‘I want my old life back’, BBNaija star, Phyna cries out

    15 March 2023

    Cubana Chief Priest endorses Sanwo-Olu for second term

    6 March 2023

    I didn’t collect money from any candidate — Toyin Abraham

    21 February 2023

    Rema returns with two new songs for 2023

    17 February 2023

    Photos: Banky W, Adesua finally reveal son

    17 September 2022

    SSANU, NASU call off strike after meeting with FG

    20 August 2022

    Sanwo-Olu Inspects 1,188-unit Sangotedo Housing Project, Sets Deadlines for Commissioning

    17 September 2021

    Did you know? – Perfumery edition

    10 August 2022

    Do You Know Who Wore the First Lipstick?

    10 August 2022

    Nigeria’s database increased by 150% in three years, Pantami recounts success of NIM

    17 September 2022

    Nigeria, Qatar set for partnership over cultural promotion

    7 September 2022

    Ooni of Ife marries new wife, Mariam

    7 September 2022

    FACT CHECK: Video of Elon Musk endorsing Obi fake, part of dangerous disinformation campaign

    31 August 2022

    ‘I want my old life back’, BBNaija star, Phyna cries out

    15 March 2023

    Cubana Chief Priest endorses Sanwo-Olu for second term

    6 March 2023

    I didn’t collect money from any candidate — Toyin Abraham

    21 February 2023

    Rema returns with two new songs for 2023

    17 February 2023
  • Sports
  • Others
    • About us
    • Get In Touch
Podium ReportersPodium Reporters
Home » News » State governors to blame for rising poverty — FG
News

State governors to blame for rising poverty — FG

By Victor Fola30 November 2022No Comments1 Views5 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Reddit WhatsApp

The Federal Government has said that state governors are to be blamed for the rising rate of poverty in the country

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, made this assertion at a press briefing in the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, shortly after this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by the President Muhammadu Buhari.

The FG blamed the governors for priotising the construction of heavy pieces of infrastructure such as bridges and airports in cities rather than improving the lives of the rural poor.

According to the Federeal Government, 72% of Nigeria’s poor live in neglected rural communities.

Agba said the governors had abandoned the critical demography, preferring to spend state resources on the capital cities instead.

He said, “The governors are basically functioning in their state capitals. And democracy that we preach about is delivering the greatest goods to the greatest number of people. And from our demography, it shows that the greatest number of our people live in rural areas, but the governors are not working in the rural areas.

“Right now 70 per cent of our people live in rural areas. They produce 90 per cent of what we eat. And unfortunately 60 per cent of what they produce is lost due to post harvest loss and it does not get to the market.

“I think from the Federal Government’s side we are doing our best. But we need to say that rather than governors continuing to compete to take loans to build airports that are not necessary, where they have other airports so close to them, or governors now competing to build flyovers all over the place, we appeal that they should concentrate on building rural roads so that the farmer can at least get their products to the market.”

Citing the findings of a recent survey he conducted across the 109 senatorial districts nationwide, the Minister said Sokoto state ranked the highest on the poverty scale, followed by the oil-rich state of Bayelsa.

The result clearly shows that 72 per cent of poverty is in the rural areas. It also showed clearly that Sokoto State is leading in poverty with 91 per cent.

“But the surprising thing is Bayelsa being the second in terms of poverty rating in the country. So, you see the issue is not about availability of money. But it has to do with the application of money,” he said.

Agba lamented that despite the federal government’s intervention to alleviate poverty, the results did not reflect the amount of investment made in the area.

He said, “In the course of working on the national development plan, we looked at previous plans and asked why they didn’t do as much as expected. We also looked at the issues of the National Social Investment Programme.

“At the federal level, the government is putting out so much money but not seeing so much reflection in terms of money that has been put into alleviating poverty, which is one of the reasons the government also put in place the national poverty reduction with growth strategy.

“But if the federal government puts the entire income that it earns into all of this without some form of complementarity from the state governments in playing their part, it will seem as if we are throwing money in the pond.”

On food inflation, Agba said though states were in charge of agricultural land, they did not invest in them for the desired effect on their rural citizens.

He noted that farm products were affordable at the point of harvest but became expensive due to poor rural-urban roads, causing supply chain disruptions.

“UNIDO report shows us in terms of employment, the MSMEs employ 70 per cent of our people. So, you can imagine how much progress we will make when there are roads and power in these rural areas.

“In terms of agriculture, you find out that the federal government doesn’t have land that they would plant. The government has pushed for the Anchor Borrowers programme and that is going on very well but the state control lands states. They are the ones to provide land for agriculture. They are not investing in that. They would rather build skyscrapers in a city where people will see and clap but the skyscrapers do not put food on the table.

“When we’re talking about food prices, like I mentioned right now is driving inflation, prices of food at the farm gates are low. But when you now take it to the urban areas, you find out that the prices are high due to supply chain disruptions or lack of infrastructure to take them there,” he said.

Agba urged state governors to channel their resources into providing “food, nutrition, housing and clothing for our people before we begin to think of how to go to the moon and begin to build flyovers and airports in the state capital.”

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Telegram Email WhatsApp

Related Posts

00 Views

Victory not just mine, but every Lagosian — Sanwo-Olu

20 March 20233 Mins Read
00 Views

INEC declares Sanwo-Olu winner of Lagos Guber polls

20 March 20231 Min Read
0201 Views

24 hours to Lagos Guber polls, leadership dispute over LP ‘legitimate’ candidate lingers

17 March 20232 Mins Read
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Demo
Top Posts

EXCLUSIVE: Obi agrees to deal to clear path for Atiku’s emergence

26 August 202222K Views

“We have no record of crime against Tinubu” – US declares, falsifies drug dealing allegations

8 November 202211K Views

“Yorubas are from lineage of traitors and cowards, will soon be landless” – Kennena Eloka, prominent Obi supporter, fumes on social media

8 October 20227K Views

Uproar as Obi demands over N1M in gate fees to address Nigerians

4 September 20226K Views
Lifestyle
Entertainment

‘I want my old life back’, BBNaija star, Phyna cries out

By Victor Fola15 March 20231 Views

Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Ijeoma Josephina Otabor aka Phyna has yearned for her…

Cubana Chief Priest endorses Sanwo-Olu for second term

6 March 2023

I didn’t collect money from any candidate — Toyin Abraham

21 February 2023

Rema returns with two new songs for 2023

17 February 2023
Find us on social media folow
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news from us.

Demo
About
About

It is our belief that the growth of any society depends on the quality of its journalism. We live up to this ideal by providing factual and full information on politics, sports, entertainment and culture so citizens can make informed decisions and act in defence of the truth.

Facebook Twitter
Recommended

Victory not just mine, but every Lagosian — Sanwo-Olu

20 March 20233 Mins Read

INEC declares Sanwo-Olu winner of Lagos Guber polls

20 March 20231 Min Read

24 hours to Lagos Guber polls, leadership dispute over LP ‘legitimate’ candidate lingers

17 March 20232 Mins Read
Most Popular

EXCLUSIVE: Obi agrees to deal to clear path for Atiku’s emergence

26 August 202222K Views

“We have no record of crime against Tinubu” – US declares, falsifies drug dealing allegations

8 November 202211K Views

“Yorubas are from lineage of traitors and cowards, will soon be landless” – Kennena Eloka, prominent Obi supporter, fumes on social media

8 October 20227K Views
© 2023 The Podium Reporters. Designed by Marvelworx Limited.
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Science
  • Sports

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.