Duke: Nigeria’s ‘Africa’s Biggest Economy’ Claim Masks Widespread Poverty

Presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has faulted the description of Nigeria as Africa’s wealthiest or largest economy, saying the claim does not reflect the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.

Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, said Nigeria’s huge Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should not be mistaken for national prosperity, arguing that per capita income provides a more realistic measure of citizens’ economic wellbeing.

Speaking during an interview with selected journalists in Lagos, the PRP presidential hopeful said Nigeria remains one of the poorest countries in Africa when its population and individual income levels are taken into account.

He said it was misleading to celebrate Nigeria’s economic size without considering how the country’s wealth is distributed among its citizens.

Duke maintained that productivity remained central to economic development, stressing that the government must create an environment where citizens can engage in productive activities and earn sustainable incomes.

On insecurity, the former governor criticised the use of the term “Islamic terrorists” to describe insurgents and bandits, arguing that their activities should not be associated with Islam.

He linked the proliferation of arms and worsening insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria partly to the collapse of Libya, which, according to him, facilitated the movement of weapons southward through poorly secured borders.

Duke called for short-, medium- and long-term strategies to tackle kidnapping, banditry and terrorism, saying security challenges were also symptoms of deeper economic and governance problems.

He urged the government to combine security operations with measures aimed at increasing productivity, improving local production and deploying modern technology to strengthen border security.

On the economic revival of Northern Nigeria, Duke said the region’s mineral resources could provide a major source of wealth if mining was properly regulated and developed.

He said a structured mining system should ensure that local communities, state governments and the Federal Government benefit from mineral resources, rather than allowing the sector to remain largely informal and artisanal.

Duke cited gold deposits in Zamfara and other mineral resources across the North, including lithium and columbite, saying government should conduct detailed assessments to establish proven reserves and make the sector more attractive to investors.

He proposed stronger collaboration between federal and state governments in developing the mining sector, arguing that states should play a greater role in managing and benefiting from the resources within their territories.

According to him, security remains critical to attracting investors, warning that insecurity and rising poverty could drive legitimate businesses and investors away, as witnessed in parts of the Niger Delta.

Duke said Nigeria must therefore move beyond celebrating its GDP and focus on building a productive economy capable of improving the incomes and living standards of its citizens.