NBS refutes 27% poverty forecast by 2015

National Bureau of Statistics has reacted to reports by a section of the media which claimed that the Statistician General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale stated that “Only 27.2% of Nigerians will be poor by 2015″.

According to a statement by the National Bureau of Statistics which was made available to our correspondent, it said this 'assertion is completely false as no such statement was made by any staff or representative of the NBS.'

'The attention of the National Bureau of Statistics has been drawn to an article appearing in some newspapers claiming to quote the Statistician General of the Federation as having stated that, “Only 27.2% of Nigerians will be poor by 2015″, during a workshop, where he was represented by a staff. The NBS wishes to categorically state that this assertion is completely false as no such statement was made by any staff or representative of the NBS,' it said.

It further stated that the statement made by the representative of the NBS alluded to the UN MDGs target that requires countries to halve poverty by 2015. Based on the baseline poverty rate of 2004, which was 54.4%, Nigeria would need to be at a poverty level of 27.2% in order to achieve the said UN MDGs target. 'This is clearly not an estimate or forecast but merely an expectation of the UN MDGs. Any further reports suggesting otherwise should be disregarded 'assertion is completely false as no such statement was made by any staff or representative of the NBS,' it said.