World Discussion Contest: Pressing Issues In My Country - Nigeria | by @omabliss

INTRODUCTION

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There are lots of issues and matters arising in the world today. From conflicts to poverty, crime, racism, pandemics, natural disasters, rape, etc. It's constructive to at some point, deliberate on these issues with a goal to seek permanent solutions in order to make the world a better place.

In this post, I'll be deliberating on poverty in my country, expatiating on it, highlighting its numerous causes, its consequences, and lasting solutions.

THE STATE OF POVERTY IN MY COUNTRY NIGERIA

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According to worldbank.org who reported findings from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), about 83 million Nigerians (40% of the population) live below the poverty line of $381.75/year.

Bringing it to a daily affair, 381.75/365 = $1.05/day.

That means 40% of the population can't afford $1.05 each day.

In comparison, a plate of boiled plantain from a standard restaurant in my city Port Harcourt, costs N600 and with the current rate of N506 to $1 via USDT P2P on binance as at 10:23 pm, June 8, 2021, that N600 equals $1.18

^{A plate of boiled plantain on Genesis restaurant, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria}

_{Screenshot from Gensis restaurants' website}

But boiled plantain is never sufficient for a whole day. It's just a meal and there should be at least 2 more to make it 3 meals for the three sections of a day which is morning, afternoon, and night.

The truth is, these 40% can't afford a standard meal in a day. They have to resort to less nutritious and/or delictable foods like soaked garri, cheap biscuits and stuffs.

Sadly, food is not the only expense for the day, there is still the cost of transportation, communication, housing, clothing, education and lots more. Breaking all these down in fees, the cost is easily above $5/day for the least moderate living.

So, even the poverty line of $1.05/day is unacceptable. It should be at least $5/day, but that might mean over 60% of the population would be regarded as poor.

CAUSES OF POVERTY IN NIGERIA

There are numerous reasons while the country is ravaged by poverty. These includes but are not limited to,

• Lack of employment

• Lack of education

• Incapabilities on the part of the government

• Inflation

• Nepotism

• Corruption

• Looting of funds by government officials, etc.

CONSEQUENCES OF POVERTY

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These consequences of poverty are quite pitiable. They include but are not limited to,

• Mal-nutrition

• Ill health

• Child natality

• Crime

• Moral decadence

• Depressions

• Illiteracy

• Disloyality

• Unpatriotism, and many more.

LASTING SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUE OF POVERTY

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Having seen what poverty in my country Nigeria is like, what the possible causes are and the consequences, let me at this juncture, profer lasting solutions to the issue of poverty. They are

• Education: There should be affordable education to get the populace informed and trained in diverse skills to be employable and/or self sustaining.

• Job creation: A country that is yet to take a step towards industrialization is bound to be subject to poverty. Giving loans to an insignificant few citizens isn't enough, just as creating schemes that won't cater for a significant amount of the population. Jobs need to be created for people to work and earn money.

• Government taking responsibility: The poverty state in the country can't but be a reflection of the failure of the government. There's corruption, nepotism, looting, inflation and all sort of poverty causing factors in the Nigerian system. The government has to take responsibility and resolve these issues.

CONCLUSION

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The state of poverty in my country is beyond pitiable. It is a remonstration peace and unity as poverty will always breed bitterness, hatred and crime. Other effects of poverty include poor health conditions, illiteracy, malnutrition, etc.

It behoves the government of the day to deal decisively with the numerous causes of poverty to alleviate the sufferings of a vast number of the populace.

Thanks for reading.

Cc:
@bright-obias