Reno Omokri Says ₦3,000 Enough for Nigerians to Live On

Nigeria's Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has argued that an average Nigerian can get by on ₦3,000 per day, saying poverty should be measured based on the economic realities and cost of living in each country.

The Ambassador-designate also questioned the application of international poverty measurements to Nigeria, distinguishing between the World Bank's global benchmark and the realities faced by people living in the country.

He said the poverty definition used by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, which he described as living on less than $2 daily, represents an international standard and does not necessarily capture the Nigerian economic situation.

When asked if he disagreed with the World Bank's poverty benchmark, Omokri maintained that the institution was simply working with a global measure.

He added, "The World Bank is using a global benchmark. And they've always used it?"

Omokri made the claim while appearing on Sunday Politics, a television programme where he discussed the rising cost of living and how poverty is measured internationally.

He explained that he recently went to markets alongside a journalist, without any security personnel, to personally check the prices of basic food items, looking at yam, rice, maize and fruits, among other essentials.

Based on his assessment, Omokri said ₦3,000 could provide enough for a Nigerian to live on for a day.

However, he noted that the same amount would be regarded as an indication of poverty in the United States because of the difference in living costs.

He said, "I went there with one journalist, no security, and I stopped along the way, and I priced goods. I priced yam, I priced rice, I priced maize, I priced fruits. In Nigeria, people can live on that amount in a day."

He added, "But in the United States, if you try to live on that amount in a day, it is poverty. So, you have to context, again, context matters."