We have removed 5 million Nigerians from poverty – President Buhari

President Buhari has said that his government through its National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), has in three years, lifted no fewer than 5 million Nigerians out of extreme poverty.

The president made this known at the opening of the Global Youth Employment Forum of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Abuja today Thursday August 1st.

Represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, President Buhari commended the ILO for committing itself to youth employment. He also disclosed that the Federal government has since its incception in 2015, created over 2 million direct and indirect job opportunities.

“We note at this point that the issue of youth unemployment has assumed a global significant, and on the front burner of development discourse. The government of Nigeria understands the need to focus attention on youth empowerment by creating the enabling environment for job opportunities and capacity building. The present administration from the onset, made the investment in our people, one of the key goals of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, which is the national development blueprint from the period of 2017 to 2020.

“The implementation of the plan also has the flagship programme such as the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP). It has yielded some measurable outcomes in the form of increased school enrolment and the creation of more jobs. One of the key components of the NSIP is the N-Power programme and its sub-components has led to the creation of job opportunities in different sectors of the economy for young persons.

“For example, in the past three years, the programme has yielded over 2 million direct and indirect employment opportunities and has lifted over 5 million Nigerians out of extreme poverty. In addition to this achievement, some sectors of the economy with high propensity for massive job creation and employment generation were specifically target by the government for various forms of suppor” he said

Buhari noted that these sectors included agriculture, solid minerals, power, works and housing, trade and investment, and also in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The president said some programmes of the federal government were also targeted at the informal sectors, improving their capacity and boosting the domestic economy, such as the import restriction the executive order on ease of doing business.