Theresa May, British Prime Minister, said on Tuesday, that Nigeria is home of the highest number of poor people in the world.
May, spoke in Cape Town, South Africa, that 87 million Nigerians were living below the poverty line of $1 and 90 cents per day.
She observed that Africa was home to a majority of the world’s fragile states, and a quarter of the world’s displaced people.
She said: “Much of Nigeria is thriving, with many individuals enjoying the fruits of a resurgent economy, yet 87 million Nigerians live below $1 and 90 cents a day, making it home to more very poor people than any other nation in the world.”
May noted that achieving inclusive growth was a major challenge across the world, stressing that Africa needs to create 50,000 new jobs per day to keep employment rate at its current levels till 2035.
Said May: “I am unashamed about the need to ensure that our aid program works for the UK.
“Today I am committing that our development spending will not only combat extreme poverty but at the same time tackle global challenges and support our own national interest.
“It is in the world’s interest to see that those jobs are created, to tackle the causes and symptoms of extremism and instability, to deal with migration flows and to encourage clean growth.”