Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has said the average Nigerian can survive on about ₦3,000 a day, arguing that poverty and living standards should be assessed within the economic realities of individual countries.
Omokri made the statement while appearing on the Sunday Politics programme, where he discussed the rising cost of living and international poverty benchmarks.
He said he had personally conducted a market survey with a journalist to assess the prices of basic food items, including yam, rice, maize and fruits.
According to Omokri, the prices he observed during the exercise convinced him that ₦3,000 could sustain an individual for a day in Nigeria.
He argued that the purchasing power of the same amount differs significantly from one country to another, noting that an equivalent amount would constitute extreme hardship in countries such as the United States.
Omokri also questioned the use of uniform international poverty benchmarks, arguing that global indicators do not always adequately reflect local market conditions and differences in purchasing power.
His comments have, however, generated strong reactions, particularly on social media, with some Nigerians challenging the claim and arguing that ₦3,000 a day would not adequately cover food, transportation, housing and other basic expenses.
At ₦3,000 per day, an individual would have a monthly spending allowance of about ₦90,000, before accounting for major expenses such as rent, transportation, electricity and other household needs.
The statement comes amid continuing concerns over the cost of living and the purchasing power of Nigerians as food, transportation and other essential expenses remain major components of household budgets.
