Prioritize rural development to tackle poverty – AFRI-CIRD tells national, sub-national gov’ts
The African Center for Innovative Research and Development (AFRI-CIRD) has called for urgent and strategic rural development initiatives to address the widening poverty gap in Nigeria, following alarming revelations in a new World Bank report.
In a press statement issued on May 5, 2025, and signed by its Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Mohammed Bello, AFRI-CIRD expressed grave concern over findings in the April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief for Nigeria released by the World Bank. The report disclosed that approximately 75% of Nigerians living in rural areas remain below the poverty line.
The organization noted that rural communities continue to bear the brunt of economic stagnation, inflation, and structural inequalities. In contrast to 41.3% of Nigeria’s urban population living in poverty, the rate in rural regions is nearly double, painting a dire picture of socioeconomic disparity across the country.
“The data from Nigeria’s most recent national surveys and the World Bank’s findings underscore the urgent need for a paradigm shift in the country’s approach to poverty reduction,” AFRI-CIRD stated.
The statement also referenced historical poverty data, revealing that as of 2018/19—prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—30.9% of Nigerians lived below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 per day. This, according to AFRI-CIRD, signals an enduring and expanding inequality that must be met with long-term, inclusive, and evidence-based policy solutions.
AFRI-CIRD argued that while past and ongoing measures such as conditional cash transfers and food relief programs have provided temporary relief, they fall short in tackling the root causes of poverty. The organization described such interventions as “inadequate, unsustainable, and insufficient.”
To address these challenges, AFRI-CIRD proposed a comprehensive rural development strategy centered on four pillars: strengthening social protection systems, investing in human capital development, boosting rural infrastructure, and promoting economic diversification. The group emphasized the need for universal health insurance, robust pension systems for informal workers, and major investments in rural education and healthcare.
It also recommended improved infrastructure through rural electrification, better road networks, and access to clean water and sanitation, alongside fostering rural entrepreneurship through support for agriculture, manufacturing, and digital innovation.
Furthermore, AFRI-CIRD urged state governments to utilize localized data by empowering State Bureaus of Statistics and collaborating with indigenous research institutions for tailored, community-driven solutions.
“Bridging the poverty gap is not only a moral obligation but a critical step for national peace, stability, and prosperity,” AFRI-CIRD asserted, adding that Nigeria stands at a defining moment that requires decisive and sustained action.
The organization concluded its statement by warning that no nation can truly thrive when the majority of its rural population remains in destitution.
