Is Delta State Truly The Second Least Poor State In Nigeria?

BY CAMI EZENWA

Is Delta State truly the second least poor state in Nigeria as claimed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its just released statistical survey?

The assertion is one that many people may not agree with, except with a dispassionate analyses and interpretation of the indices and methodology used in arriving at the conclussion.

However, the bureau in its latest release, said the Governor Ifeanyi-Okowa led state is second only to Lagos when it comes to poverty rate.

 “Lagos State has 4.50 per cent poverty head count rate and compared to Delta;s 6.02 per cent.

The assertion has already got officials in Asaba commenting with Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, asserting that the report was a reflection of the “Prosperity for all Deltans’’ agenda being vigorously pursued by the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa administration.

Aniagwu referred to what  he called the enabling investment climate created by the Okowa led government, particularly in oil bearing communities.

Delta State being one of the highest revenue earners from Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), the state’s spokesman said this also indicated that the state government had been putting into judicious use the monies accrued to the state.

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Aniagwu thanked the NBS for conducting living standards survey 10 years after the last one and for using consumption expenditures approach in measuring poverty in Nigeria rather than income approach.

According to him, conceptually, consumption expenditures better reflect the achievements of a particular level of welfare by a household, while income represents the opportunity of reaching a certain level of well-being.

“The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Monday, May 4, 2020, released the long-awaited Nigeria Poverty and Inequality Survey Report 2019.

“The report places Delta State as the second least poor (poverty reduction milestone) State in Nigeria, after Lagos.

 “This particular survey, conducted with support from the World Bank, recorded a clear departure from the previous exercises, especially in the area of methodology where the consumption expenditures approach was adopted. “With the new national poverty line at N137, 430 or $361 per person per annum, which translates to $0.98 per day and captures about 40 per cent of the total population, it shows considerable improvement over the years.

“In the last couple of years Delta has remained one of the highest earners in the country in terms of crude oil revenues due to the peaceful relations between International Oil Companies IOCs and host communities. “The Okowa administration in his first tenure promised Deltans prosperity for all and in his second term he said he would build a stronger Delta in terms of the economy, projects and of course, peaceful relations.

“The NBS rating is a pointer to the fact that Delta’s resources have been put to judicious use by the Okowa-led government thereby reducing poverty to a level that we can boldly say that we are working. “Our desire as a state is to come top in the country and also further improve the standard of living of Deltans in line with best global standards,” he stated.

Beside what the ratings and officials may say, Is Delta truly the second least poor state in the country? Perhaps the citizens may be the ones to have the last say, because it is said that it is he who wears the shoes that knows where it pinches.