Jonathan puts Nigeria’s poverty rate at 33.1%

President Goodluck Jonathan says the country’s poverty rate is 33.1 percent.

He disputed the 60 percent poverty rate which, according to him, some people are brandishing about Nigeria.

He, however, said the issue was not about the percentage of poverty rate, but about his administration’s determination to positively impact more on the citizens’ lives.

Jonathan spoke in Lagos late Sunday night at a programme tagged “An Unimaginable Feat in Sports” organised to showcase his government’s achievements in the sports sector.

He pledged to end corruption in the oil sector if re-elected, noting, however, that corruption was being over-celebrated in Nigeria as if the whole country was corrupt.

“People talk about the oil industry because that’s an industry with a lot of people and a lot of money is involved. But I promise you that in the next four years, we’ll sanitise the oil sector”, he said.

Jonathan, who also promised to work with young Nigerians, said societies that do not encourage young ones risk extinction.

He pledged to appoint more youth under the age of 40 years as ministers and heads of ministries, departments and agencies of government.

“Before he left to go and participate in election as deputy governorship candidate in Jigawa State, Nurudeen (former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs) was a minister and he’s below 40. Last week, we swore in the youngest female minister. She’s also about 40 years old. Apart from cabinet positions for under 40s, we’re also appointing young people as heads of parastatals. We want to continue to encourage those in youth-dominated sectors…I can assure you that we’ll not go below what we’re currently doing. I know you want more, vote for us and you’ll get it”, he said.

The event, which ended in the wee hours of Monday, was attended by sportsmen and women, young professionals and beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s scholarship schemes.