Nigeria’s Reform Gains vs. Persistent Poverty

The World Bank just dropped some eye‑opening numbers: about 139 million Nigerians are living in poverty even though the country’s recent macro‑economic reforms are finally starting to bite. Nigeria’s bold moves—scrapping the petrol subsidy and unifying the exchange rate—have begun to stabilise the economy, boost revenues, shore up foreign‑exchange reserves and pull inflation down a notch.

All those gains sound great, but they haven’t reached millions of ordinary people yet. The new Nigeria Development Update spells out a three‑point plan to bridge the gap: drive inflation lower, make public spending smarter, and roll out stronger social safety nets. Food inflation is a killer for the poor, so taming it is key to protecting lives and keeping political support alive.