The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe had lamented that hardship in Nigeria today is worse than what it was last year.

In his address at his 2025 Ofala Festival held on Friday in Ime Obi, Igwe Achebe lamented the pathetic poverty level in the country in 2024, but noted that “unfortunately, the hardship has since further deepened, particularly among the ordinary citizens, thereby throwing more people below poverty line”.

He added: “According to the latest World Bank development update on Nigeria, our poverty rate has risen from 40% in 2018 to 46% in 2023, that is from 79 million to 104 million people being classified as poor”.

He lamented unavailability of basic essentials, such as food, medication, transportation and house rent.

This situation, Igwe Achebe said, is worsened by the unending violence in most parts of the country which affects the agricultural sector very seriously.

He demanded that:“Whilst it is pursuing laudable macroeconomic stabilisation measures, we call on the government to make urgent provisions for the poorest in the population and provide palliatives that can directly reach the intended beneficiaries without being sidelined by government bureaucracy”.

Igwe Achebe noted that as the condition continues to deteriorated attention of the political class in Anambra State has been diverted to the 2027 general election.

On the Ofala festival, Igwe Achebe said the theme:’Njiko na Ntachi’, unity and perseverance was chosen to remind the citizens of the importance of community resilience and by embracing the theme the community aims to foster unity by encouraging them to come together with a sense of belonging; promote resilience and uphold enduring communal values.

Igwe Achebe also highlighted Onitsha community programmes and hoped that in no distant time the Ofala festival will attain world heritage cultural festival by UNESCO. (Daily Independent)