A report has revealed that approximately N45 billion was spent by 15 northern states on various poverty alleviation initiatives within the first six months of 2024.
This development comes amid rising inflation, which has exacerbated economic hardship across the country.
The National Bureau of Statistics recently disclosed that Nigeria’s inflation rate climbed to 33.88% in October 2024, up from 32.70% recorded in September. In January, the inflation rate stood at 29.90%, indicating a 13% increase over ten months.
The northern region, which has consistently recorded the highest poverty rates in Nigeria, has been significantly affected. In April 2024, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, expressed concern over the region’s alarming poverty levels, particularly in the North West.
Speaking during a lecture at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Ribadu highlighted Sokoto as the hardest-hit state, citing a national poverty rate of 40.1% as of 2019.
A 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index Survey by the NBS further underscored the region’s dire situation, showing that 65% of Nigeria’s poor population resides in the North. Sokoto State was found to have 91% of its population living in poverty, while other northern states, including Jigawa, Zamfara, and Yobe, also recorded alarmingly high poverty rates.
State Expenditures on Poverty Alleviation
An investigation revealed that 15 of the 19 northern states allocated N45,323,220,202 to poverty alleviation programmes between January and June 2024. These states include Zamfara, Yobe, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kogi, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna, Jigawa, Gombe, Borno, Bauchi, and Adamawa.
The data was derived from budget implementation reports available on the Open Nigerian States platform, a BudgIT-supported repository of government financial records. These reports are issued quarterly and provide insights into state expenditures.
During the same period, these states collectively received over N325 billion in grants and aid from global financial institutions. However, Kano State, despite having 68.8% of its population living below the national poverty line, reportedly did not allocate any funds to poverty alleviation programmes, despite receiving N5.3 billion in financial aid.
Zamfara State, with 82% of its population classified as poor, allocated just N1.3 million to poverty alleviation despite receiving N52.8 billion in grants. Similarly, Yobe State, with a high poverty rate, spent N16 billion on such programmes after receiving N53 billion in grants.
Other states recorded varying expenditures during the same period: Plateau (N3.6 billion), Niger (N280 million), Nasarawa (N94 million), Kwara (N583 million), Kogi (N14 billion), Kebbi (N54 million), Katsina (N16 million), Kaduna (N13 million), Jigawa (N6 billion), Gombe (N1.8 billion), Borno (N3.2 billion), Bauchi (N850 million), and Adamawa (N839 million).
The allocation and impact of these funds continue to be a subject of scrutiny, especially in light of the region’s persistent poverty challenges.
(PUNCH)
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