President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday claimed that his regime has lifted over 10 million Nigerians out of poverty in the last two years.

In his Democracy Day speech, Mr Buhari said his government further hopes to lift 100 million citizens out of poverty over six years. The regime’s tenure expires barely two years away.

“In the last two years we lifted 10.5 million people out of poverty – farmers, small-scale traders, artisans, market women and the like,” Mr Buhari said. “I am very convinced that this 100 million target can be met and this informed the development of a National poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy. The specific details of this accelerated strategy will be unveiled shortly.”

Peoples Gazette cannot immediately verify Mr Buhari’s claim on lifting 10 million out of poverty.

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

Gloria Joseph-Raji, a senior economist at the Washington-based financial institution, predicts an astronomical surge in Nigeria’s 83 million poverty cycle. 

“So, with slower growth and fewer jobs, and then coupled with high inflation, our estimates are that the number of the poor will increase by about 15 to 20 million people by 2022 from the about 83 million people in 2019,” Ms Joseph-Raji said.