Former Vice-President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar says recession cannot be said to have ended until all Nigerians can eat three square meals.
He made the claim above in reaction to the news that Nigeria had exited recession. Recall that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), on Tuesday announced that the country’s economy grew by 0.55% after five negative outlooks.
Atiku expressed delight on Twitter but said there is more work to be done “because inflation is still high”.
“When all Nigerians can eat three square meals, that’s when the real recession ends. We have work to do,” he said.
He stated that the government must continue to work hard to ensure that economic opportunities are expanded for all Nigerians.
Speaking further via his twitter handle, @atiku, he said inflation is still high. “While we rejoice, it’s also important to recognize that economic weakness at the bottom of the pyramid remains.
“As a Nigerian, investor and employer of labour, the news of Nigeria’s official emergence from the recession is most welcome. The news is surely a boost for Nigeria – it tells investors, local and foreign, that our economy is worth investing in,” he also said.
Other Reactions
Atiku is not the only one to have responded to the news of the country’s exit from recession. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has also responded, positing that there is nothing to celebrate until harsh living conditions improve.
Meanwhile, the federal government expressed satisfaction and has promised to sustain the growth.
