How 100m Nigerians will be out of poverty, says Osinbajo

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has reaffirmed that Buhari regime’s plans to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years will not be based on normal approach, but on a practical strategy that will deliver the results as promised.

In accordance with a statement by Laolu Akande, VP’s Spokesman, Osinbajo disclosed this in Abuja on Friday at the inaugural meeting of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy Steering Committee which took place at the Presidential Villa.

The Vice President showed confidence that the Committee will be able to accomplish speedy progress, stating that “in order not to make this merely, another of those high-sounding committees that eventually achieve nothing, we have to be very intentional about our objectives and how to achieve them.”

Osinbajo declared to members of the committee, that government would adopt a different and more effective approach in actualising the objective of eradicating poverty in the nation for the sake of delivering results.

As indicated by him, “I really want us to approach this as much as possible, commonsensically, so that we are able to resolve all the issues and focus on the real progress.

“We must look at what others have done, the smart things that other people have done, and adopt.”

The VP added that the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy is intended to be a national strategy, not just a federal effort and it is aimed at taking 100 million people, nationally, out of poverty within a target time-frame of 10 years.

He further said that efforts will be made to focus attention on creating opportunities for Nigerians to earn decent incomes as well as equipping them with the necessary vocational skills.

Those in attendance comprised Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, who is also Nigeria Governors Forum Chairman, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum and Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Ministers of Agriculture, Muhammad Nanono; Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, and Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige also attended, while the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba joined the meeting virtually.

After the inaugural meeting, Governor Sule of Nasarawa State, while responding to questions from reporters said, “The whole essence of the committee is for the government to be able to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.”