POVERTY IN NIGERIA - THERESA MAY IS RIGHT. BY BEN IGIEBOR

BEN IGIEBOR IS A NIGERIAN BUT UK BASE , He is someone anyone can call a man of many things, He speaks for the people of Nigeria, and write on whatever interest him, He is a Philanthropist, a writer, and few other things.

Realizing the hard ship in Nigeria, He wrote 

"POVERTY IN NIGERIA"

It is what we British describe as "CALLING A SPADE A SPADE" Yes there are signs of wealth around, displayed by the affluent few but generally poverty shows its ugly head much more to any observer.

With many Nigerians lucky to have 'work' on salaries of 5 - 10 thousand Naira a month (ie £22), how indeed, can any of them survive? Only by the saving grace of relatives abroad.

With the majority living just above the poverty line, one cannot fail to see it in the face and physical demeanour of the people; many are hagard! Many wear second-hand clothes and shoes. Most Nigerians carry mobile phones on them that they can't afford to put credit in. Lots of our children read in the dark. The number of dilipidated cars spewing out smoke and constituting health hazards are in the millions.

But all these are in a country where national assembly members collect hundreds of millions of Naira monthly (I dare to ask the President where the Federal government finds the money to pay them). In the same economy too are doctors, lawyers, bankers and oil industry workers earning stupendous salaries that they do not require!

So perhaps, all that needs to be done to tackle poverty in Nigeria is to address the inequalities in the system and adjust pays (reduce some and increase others) and prices; this could do the trick and eradicate the poverty in the nation. Afluence and poverty side by side is an anomaly, that the government must not allow.

Ben Igiebor MICS, MSc(Cardiff, Wales)
Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK.