President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aide, Femi Adesina, says his principal is aware that Nigerians are suffering.
Mr Adesina stated this while addressing State House journalists after Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.
He, however, assured that efforts were in top gear to address the situation as the Federal Executive Council approved the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy.
“The Presidential Economic Advisory Council had some weeks back submitted the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy document to the Federal Executive Council, and it was widely debated today and eventually passed as a conclusion,” Mr Adesina stated.
Continuing, he added, “The Federal Executive Council noted the worsening poverty situation in the country and the efforts of the federal government to redress that situation. It is not as if the government is not aware that there is poverty in the land.
“But something is being done, and one of it is this National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy that was approved today.”
The media aide reiterated Mr Buhari’s determination to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“The council also noted that the president had pledged to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years. Actually, by June 12, that promise would be two years old. It was a work in progress that would get done.
“The president had directed the Secretary to Government of the Federation and the Chairman, Presidential Economic Advisory Council, to come up with a sustainable poverty reduction strategy, and that is what is codified in this document that was passed today,” he explained.
