Sokoto, Bayelsa lead Nigeria’s poverty rating

The Federal Government says a recent survey has shown that the country’s poverty is mostly found in the rural areas, noting that Sokoto State has the highest poverty rate in Nigeria.

The government stated that Bayelsa State is second in poverty rating in the country.

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, said this while addressing State House correspondents at the end of the virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Agba said: “In the past, we’ve always looked at monetary poverty. But poverty like we know has different pieces, different intensity, and different causes.

“And it is for this reason; I went around the 109 senatorial districts in Nigeria, to carry out those surveys and to be able to say specifically, where this hardship is.

“The result clearly shows that 72 per cent of poverty is in rural areas. It also showed clearly that Sokoto State is leading in poverty with 91 per cent.

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“But the surprising thing is Bayelsa being the second in terms of poverty rating in the country. So you see the issue is not about availability of money. But it has to do with the application of money.”

Also addressing newsmen on the outcome of the FEC meeting, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed that the council approved N630 million for the engagement of a consultancy services firm.

Malami stated that the firm will assist the nation in the deployment of technology that will help reduce risks and damages associated with the award of contracts.

He said the memo presented by the Ministry of Justice would help address all forms of deficiencies associated with contracts that expose the nation to higher risks and damages.

”This memo is intended to bring about a new development in contract administration in Nigeria, by way of deployment of technology, building capacity and specialisation, and developing a continuous checklist of all existing contracts.

”It also intends to ensure that the interest of the Nigerian government in all contracts to be considered by Ministries, Department and Agencies, are adequately addressed, to ensure that the government is not subjected to higher risks as it relates to damages and deficiency in contracts that it may sign with third parties.

“At the end of the day, the council approved the contract for consultancy services in the sum of N630, 132, 750 inclusive of the 7.5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT), with a completion period of six months,” the AGF said.

The Star