The  emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, Thursday charged presidential aides to advise President Muhammadu Buhari on the true condition and sufferings of poor Nigerians.

The emir made this call when Mr Buhari visited his palace in Kano after commissioning of Kanu-Kaduna rail project on Thursday. 

Lamenting surging insecurity and economic hardship in the country, the emir charged Mr Buhari to look into the suffering of the masses.

“We are calling on the president to look into various sectors of life and find ways of ameliorating the sufferings and hardships faced by the masses especially in the areas of security, economy, especially food and commodities. 

“We are hoping the presidential aides would continue to advise the president on the condition and wellbeing of the poor masses, on the condition and wellbeing of the poor masses, especially in those aspects where he would need to be informed on certain developments for necessary action.

This is a responsibility upon us which we need to discharge accordingly,” Mr Bayero said.

In his Democracy Day speech on June 12, Mr Buhari claimed his regime has already lifted 10 million Nigerians out of poverty. 

However, World Bank report on June 15 said about seven million Nigerians dropped below poverty line due to increase in inflation in the country in 2020. 

“As of April 2021, the inflation rate was the highest in four years.

Food prices accounted for over 60 per cent of the total increase in inflation.

Rising prices have pushed an estimated seven million Nigerians below the poverty line in 2020 alone,” the report read in part.  

Earlier in February, a World Bank report had projected that an additional 20 million Nigerians could be impoverished by 2022.