Fadeshemi revealed this on Wednesday in Kaduna during the distribution of farm inputs to 250 smallholder farmers.

Representing Fadeshemi, Bashir Abdulkadir, Director of the Department of Extension Services, highlighted the severity of the situation under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).

He stated that approximately 44.7 million men and 43.7 million women in Nigeria are living on less than $1.90 per day.

This dire revelation underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to address poverty in the country.

Fadeshemi emphasized the significance of the event in aligning with the government’s commitment to uplifting smallholder farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

The NPRGS, in collaboration with the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Service (FDAE), has identified and validated around 250 farmers for participation in transformative programs.

These farmers, integral to the nation’s agricultural sector, represent the core of Nigeria’s prosperity.

Fadeshemi stressed that initiatives like the training and empowerment programs are pivotal in laying the groundwork for positive change.

By equipping smallholder farmers with knowledge, resources, and support, the government aims to foster their resilience and success in the evolving agricultural landscape.

Speaking at the Geospatial Ecosystem Round Table Meeting in Abuja, Bagudu highlighted the administration’s focus on social welfare inclusion and security under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister emphasized the significance of geospatial technology for planning and implementation, affirming its essential role in the economic and social development of the country.

He stated that the administration recognizes the importance of leveraging geospatial data, particularly through initiatives like the Nigeria Geo-Referenced Infrastructure and Demographic Data (GRID3), for national development planning and policy decision-making.

Bagudu noted the critical role of the ministry in integrating geospatial data into national projects and programs, with the aim of adoption at the sub-national level.

He emphasized that using geospatial technology is crucial for achieving equitable distribution of infrastructure, education, security, and health services, taking into account population demography, including gender and other vulnerabilities.

The report highlighted that the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange rates had intensified the cost of living pressures, leading to an increase in the number of Nigerians living in poverty.

Despite acknowledging the Federal Government’s “bold reforms” as necessary to rescue Nigeria from a fiscal cliff, the World Bank noted that the current hardships were temporary.

The report emphasized that Nigeria is on the path to recovery but not yet out of the woods due to ongoing policies implemented by both fiscal and monetary authorities.

The World Bank urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to publicly disclose its statement of accounts and transparently reveal its revenue inflows.

The report specifically called for detailed financial statements and revenue flows from NPPC to safeguard fiscal savings from subsidy reform and ensure that oil revenues contribute to the Federation Account.

Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, highlighted that between N300 billion and N400 billion were spent monthly on fuel subsidy.

He expressed the expectation that NNPCL should have been contributing such amounts to the Federation Account, which has not been the case.

Chaudhuri emphasized that the petrol subsidy and forex management reforms are crucial steps in improving Nigeria’s economic outlook, calling for coordinated fiscal and monetary policy actions in the short to medium term.

During a press briefing at the State House Conference Center, Abuja, Edu revealed that one of the initiatives involves the ongoing disbursement of N25,000 to impoverished households in Nigeria through the conditional cash transfer program.

This financial support will continue for the next three months, totaling N75,000 per household, to cushion the economic impact caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.

Additionally, this initiative is expected to contribute to lifting 61 million households out of poverty.

Edu emphasized the meticulous verification process to ensure that the funds reach the intended beneficiaries.

The government is identifying recipients, validating their identities through their National Identification Numbers (NINs) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), and ensuring prompt disbursements.

The minister pointed out that this program represents 15 million households, equivalent to approximately 61 million individuals. Beyond this, President Tinubu’s administration plans to create jobs for millions of Nigerians through various strategies.

These measures include offering zero-interest loans to markets, petty traders, and market women, as well as supporting poor farmers through initiatives like the End Hunger Project and the Good Nigeria Project.

To tackle the multi-dimensional issue of poverty effectively, Edu highlighted the importance of collaboration between her ministry and others, such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Agriculture.

These partnerships will address various aspects of poverty, including access to education, quality healthcare, and employment opportunities.

The retreat held at the State House Conference Center has provided valuable insights into governance, leadership, and managing government affairs, setting the agenda for the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Edu emphasized that President Tinubu’s vision is to reach millions of Nigerians, create jobs, ensure food security, eradicate poverty, promote good governance, combat corruption, and uphold the rule of law.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and its affiliated agencies are committed to fulfilling these mandates and delivering results for the benefit of Nigeria’s citizens.

Mohammed Yahya, the UNDP Representative to Nigeria, emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in addressing its challenges, during a meeting with the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.

Yahya stressed the importance of inclusive growth as a means to reduce inequality and poverty rates while aligning with Nigeria’s developmental goals, recognizing Nigeria as a key driver of Africa’s progress.

Additionally, he highlighted the UNDP’s involvement in promoting effective governance at the state level, emphasizing the significance of peace-building efforts in regions like the North-East and North-West.

Minister Bagudu highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s strong advocacy for inclusive growth, an integral component of Nigeria’s National Development Plan for 2021-2025 and Agenda 2050.

This commitment comes at a crucial time when the National Bureau of Statistics reported in November 2022 that 133 million Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty.

Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation made this announcement during an interview with Channels Television on Friday.

Earlier in the week, Edu had declared the government’s commitment to raising 133 million Nigerians out of poverty.

When asked about the strategy to achieve this ambitious goal, she explained that the approach would involve the introduction of humanitarian funds. She assured that the government would maintain transparency and honesty in communicating its plans and agenda to the Nigerian populace.

“Presently, we are working on fully detailing the action plan. The agenda has been set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu already.

“From a humanitarian trust fund, there will be mobilization funds across the board. The federal government, private sector and international organization. It will be unveiled soon”.

“We will be very transparent to Nigerians; the target is to lift 133 million Nigerians by 2030,” she said.

The National Bureau of Statistics Poverty Index said 130 million Nigerians are poor.

Edu revealed this statement on Monday following her assumption of office, while engaging in discussions with the leaders of agencies operating under the ministry.

She emphasized that achieving this formidable target necessitates a comprehensive array of interventions and initiatives aimed at mitigating poverty.

“What is most important is that we will keep our focus on lifting 133 million Nigerians out of poverty.

“We can do it in phases, a step at a time because with determination and strong will, nothing is impossible”, she said.

Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics underscores the extensive scope of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria, affecting 65 percent of the population.

In a departure from the previous administration, former President Muhammadu Buhari had aspired to elevate 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, a goal that ultimately proved elusive.

Stepping into the role formerly held by Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Edu now shoulders the responsibility of tackling the array of poverty-related challenges confronting the Nigerian populace.

The UN agency said if the Federal Government of Nigeria fails to invest in healthcare and education, things may turn out bad for its citizens.

Mueller, UNFPA Country Representative, made the revelation on Monday in Abuja at a parliamentary summit to fast track Nigeria’s demographic transition.

According to her, the imperative the country has now is to take actions, stressing that in a world of 8 billion people, in a country that in a very few years will be the third most populous in the world, there could be 250 million people that could feel a sense of opportunities and possibilities.

She believes that with the wrong investment, there could be 250 million people living in increased poverty and increased insecurity.

The Country Representative said, “We have to record this. To do that without family planning, there’ll be no universal health and demographic transition.”

Nasir Isa Kwarra, Chairman, National Population Commission, believed that it was not automatic harnessing the demographic dividend but requires each nation to meet certain conditions that start with achieving a rapid and speedy fertility decline, holistically to permit sufficient demographic transition for economic transformation to occur.

This was stated in the UN Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) released on Monday to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty celebrated annually on October 17.

According to the UN, the MPI was jointly examined by the UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford.

The study revealed that notwithstanding the recession in Nigeria, poverty can be reduced, while innovative approaches to measuring the problems will enable the government to identify the appropriate support.

The report measured poverty through its indicators; starting from access to education and health, to living standards such as housing, drinking water, sanitation and electricity.

It also established that more than half of people living in poverty lack both electricity and clean cooking fuel, while a third don’t have access to nutrition, cooking fuel, sanitation and housing at the same time.

It continued to affirm that 1.2 billion people in 111 developing countries were living in acute multidimensional poverty even before the COVID-19 pandemic and the current high cost of living.

While speaking on the findings, the head of UNDP, Achim Steiner, pointed out that analytics and cutting-edge statistics can help to detect areas where spending will be most impactful.

Steiner said the report revealed that “decarbonisation and expanding access to clean energies will advance climate action, and is also critical for nearly 600 million multidimensionally poor people who still lack access to electricity and clean cooking fuel.”

He further said the report will be “vital to inform UNDP’s efforts across the globe as we work with our partners from the United Nations and beyond to reach our bold objective of helping lift 100 million people out of multidimensional poverty by the year 2025.”

The UNDP head said about 72 countries across the world had significantly reduced poverty rates before the pandemic but the recent concurring crisis had thwarted the efforts.

In his message to commemorate the Day, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, warned that the objective of eradicating poverty is being undermined, and “the world is moving backwards.”

Guterres declared that the COVID-19 pandemic set back more than four years of progress, and also cited widening inequality, the “gathering shadow” of a global recession, and the climate crisis as reasons for the faltering efforts.

Francis Ukwuije, Technical Officer, Health Financing, WHO, Nigeria, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday when a delegation of the first WHO health financing mission in Nigeria visited the management of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

He assured that efforts were on towards implementing compulsory health insurance in Nigeria, saying that they were important in advancing the development of the country.

Mohammed Sambo, the Chief Executive Officer, NHIA, opined that countries must provide financial risk protection for their people through health insurance in order to attain universal health coverage.

Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who also received the WHO’s team, explained that an estimated 83 million vulnerable Nigerians would benefit from universal health coverage programmes to make quality healthcare service affordable and accessible.