International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: ANEEJ Calls for Accountable Governance, Stronger Social Protection, and People-Centred Development
BENIN CITY, NIGERIA. October 17, 2026 – The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has called on the Federal, State and Local Governments in Nigeria to intensify efforts to eradicate poverty through effective social protection programmes, accountable governance, inclusive economic opportunities and meaningful participation of citizens in decisions affecting their lives.
In a statement marking the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, observed annually on 17 October and endorsed by its Executive Director, Rev David Ugolor, ANEEJ reaffirmed its commitment to its vision of “Africa Without Poverty”, which has guided its development, advocacy and community engagement work over the past 31 years.
The United Nations’ 2026–2028 umbrella theme for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is “United for Peace and Human Rights,” with this year’s specific focus on “Safe Homes for All.” The focus highlights the importance of adequate, safe and affordable housing as a foundation for human dignity, security, social inclusion and the enjoyment of other human rights.
Rev Ugolor notes: “The measure of Nigeria’s commitment to poverty eradication must not be the number of policies announced, but the number of lives improved, the barriers removed and the opportunities created for people to live with dignity.”
“The scale of Nigeria’s poverty challenge makes urgent and sustained action imperative. According to the World Bank’s Nigeria country overview, an estimated 69.6 per cent of Nigerians lived below the lower-middle-income poverty line of US$4.20 per person per day in 2025, while 50.8 per cent, representing approximately 123 million people, lived in extreme poverty. These estimates use different poverty thresholds and should not be interpreted as equivalent measures,” Ugolor stated.
ANEEJ notes that these figures underscore the urgent need to translate government policy commitments into measurable improvements in people’s lives. Poverty reduction must be assessed by whether households can access essential services, meet their basic needs, withstand economic shocks and participate meaningfully in the social and economic development of their communities.
“As part of its continuing efforts to address poverty and social exclusion, ANEEJ is implementing the three-year Act Naija! – Civil Society Action to Strengthen Social Protection in Nigeria project, which commenced in April 2025. The project is co-funded by the European Union under its Human Rights and Support to Civil Society in Nigeria programme and implemented in partnership with Bread for the World (Brot für die Welt) and the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), in collaboration with relevant government ministries, departments, agencies and other institutions.
“Through community sensitisation, public awareness, advocacy and civil society engagement, Act Naija! seeks to strengthen citizens’ participation in the development and monitoring of an inclusive social protection system. It also promotes the involvement of community-based organisations and other stakeholders in identifying gaps in public interventions, raising concerns and advocating responsive policies for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
Since the project commenced, ANEEJ has undertaken advocacy and stakeholder engagement to improve the coordination and delivery of social protection interventions. In September 2025, the organisation convened a stakeholder dialogue in Borno State, where participants discussed the need for a unified social protection system to improve coordination among programmes serving vulnerable populations. In October 2025, ANEEJ also called on the Governor of Delta State to assent to the Social Protection Bill passed by the State House of Assembly, emphasising the importance of a stronger legal framework for social protection,” Ugolor stated.
The organisation stresses that social protection interventions must adequately consider the needs of women, children, young people, older persons, internally displaced persons and persons with disabilities. These groups often face intersecting forms of vulnerability and must not be left behind in the design, implementation and monitoring of poverty-reduction programmes.
ANEEJ further applauds the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the endorsement of the Revised National Social Protection Policy (NSPP: 2026–2030) by the National Economic Council at its 160th meeting in Abuja, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The organisation regards this development as an important policy opportunity but emphasises that the success of the revised policy will depend on effective implementation, adequate financing, coordination across government institutions, transparent administration and measurable results.
Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, said: “On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we remind government at all levels that poverty is not simply a question of inadequate income. It is also about exclusion, unequal opportunities, limited access to essential services and the inability of people to influence decisions that determine their wellbeing. Eradicating poverty requires deliberate, sustained and accountable action that responds to the lived realities of affected individuals and communities.”
Rev. Ugolor further stated: “We welcome the endorsement of the Revised National Social Protection Policy for 2026–2030. However, policies must translate into tangible benefits for the people they are designed to serve. Nigerians need a social protection system that is accessible, adequately funded, transparently administered and responsive to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable households.
“Government must ensure that public interventions reach their intended beneficiaries, that citizens can question and monitor their implementation, and that those responsible for delivering these programmes are held accountable for results. Civil society and community representatives must be recognised as essential partners in this process.”
Call for Action
On this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, ANEEJ calls on the Federal, State and Local Governments to strengthen the implementation and coordination of social protection programmes, ensuring that interventions respond to the needs of poor and vulnerable households and reduce fragmentation in service delivery.
The organisation urges government institutions to improve transparency and accountability in poverty-reduction programmes by strengthening public access to information, establishing effective monitoring mechanisms and providing accessible channels through which citizens can report concerns and seek redress.
ANEEJ also calls for the institutionalisation of meaningful civil society and community participation in social protection governance. People experiencing poverty must not be treated merely as recipients of government assistance; they should be recognised as rights-holders and active participants in shaping the policies and programmes intended to improve their lives.
Furthermore, the organisation urges governments to complement social protection with measures that expand access to quality education, healthcare, decent work, productive livelihoods, safe housing, water and sanitation, and other essential services. Sustainable poverty eradication requires an integrated approach that protects vulnerable households while addressing the structural conditions that perpetuate deprivation.
ANEEJ calls on development partners, the media, community leaders and civil society organisations to sustain public engagement on poverty eradication and support evidence-based scrutiny of government commitments and their implementation.
Founded in 1995, ANEEJ has consistently pursued initiatives that address the structural causes of poverty, exclusion and inequality, while promoting environmental and economic justice, transparency, accountability and the protection of the rights and livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Its work recognises that poverty eradication requires more than financial assistance; it demands institutions that work for the people, fair access to public resources, opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and the protection of human dignity.
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