Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has argued that the economic realities of individual countries should be considered when assessing poverty and the ability of citizens to meet their daily needs.
Omokri made the assertion while speaking on Sunday Politics, where he discussed the rising cost of living in Nigeria and the use of international poverty benchmarks.
According to him, an average Nigerian can survive on about N3,000 per day, based on his personal assessment of prevailing food prices.
Omokri said he recently visited a market with a journalist without security personnel to examine the prices of commonly consumed food items, including yam, rice, maize and fruits.
> “From what I saw, N3,000 is enough for an average Nigerian to live on for a day,” he said.
The ambassador-designate argued that poverty measurements should not rely solely on global standards without taking into account differences in local economies, purchasing patterns and living costs.
His comments come amid persistent concerns over food inflation and declining purchasing power, with many Nigerian households struggling to cope with the rising prices of basic commodities.
Omokri’s N3,000 daily estimate translates to about N90,000 over a 30-day month, covering food and other basic daily needs if maintained consistently.
However, the claim is likely to fuel further debate over what constitutes a realistic minimum income for Nigerian households, particularly as expenses such as transportation, housing, healthcare, education and electricity can significantly increase household spending beyond food costs.
The statement has also drawn attention to the growing debate over how poverty should be measured in Nigeria and whether international poverty thresholds adequately reflect the lived experiences of Nigerians.
