Governor Umaru Bago of Niger says the majority of the population in the state lives below the poverty line. 

He gave the assertion while delivering a keynote address at a Sustainable Economic Development Cluster (SEDEC) programme for critical stakeholders in Minna on Tuesday.

Mr Bago, represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, said the state’s inequality statistics on a wide range of indices was worrisome.

“Over half of our population live below the poverty line. Some of the ills bedevilling us as people include perennial insecurity, lack of quality and affordable education and economic downturn.

“Others are poor healthcare, lack of access roads and unemployment,” he said.

The governor pointed out that corruption was also responsible for the perennial insecurity, poverty, economic downturn and unemployment in the state.

”While these challenges are multifaceted, corruption is obviously the cancerous worms responsible for the woes,” he added.

He noted that corruption had taken centre stage in the public and private endeavour and that patriotism in the context of national interest had been relegated.

According to him, good governance and accountability for the good of the people have become a mirage.

However, he said his administration was determined to propel a paradigm shift and set a new bar in addressing the challenges.

In his remarks, Marcus Wauschkuhn, SEDEC coordinator, said the organisation would focus on economic development.

He said the organisation would also help to improve market access and access to finance for MSME in the new phase of its programme from 2023 to 2026. 

(NAN)