Dethroned emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, Saturday said Nigeria in the last 40 years as the country, has made zero economic progress since 1980.

Mr Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, made this statement at a colloquium held in Kaduna to mark his 60th birthday. 

“In 1980, Nigeria’s GDP per capita on purchasing power parity basis was $2,180. In 2014, it appreciated by 50 per cent to $3,099. According to the World Bank, where were we in 2019? $2,229. 

“At this rate in the next two years in terms of purchasing power parity, the average income of a Nigerian would have gone back to what it was in 1980 under Shehu Shagari. That means, in 40 years, no progress, we made zero progress. 40 years wasted,” Mr Sanusi said. 

He further said that “Between 2014 and 2029, on the basis of this index of the purchasing power of the average income of an average Nigerian, we have wiped out all the progress made in 35 years.”

Mr Sanusi’s statement comes amid claims by the presidency that the President Muhammadu Buhari regime has lifted over 10 million Nigerians out of poverty, and that no government has invested in infrastructure like the Buhari regime.

People Gazette had on Saturday reported how Kaduna State government spent N25 million on Mr Sanusi’s colloquium amid dwindling resources in the country.