Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has said the security challenges facing Africa are closely tied to poverty, with more than 50 per cent of the population living in multidimensional poverty.
Speaking at an international dialogue in Athens, Greece which hosted former presidents and high-ranking government officials, Obi highlighted unemployment, corruption, inequality and poverty as key factors undermining security and peaceful coexistence on the continent.
In his presentation, Obi stressed the need for leaders to recognise the significant global and generational changes. He pointed out that despite the abundance of human and material resources, there are still substantially unmet needs in global governance.
“Collective security must be prioritised along with efforts to lift people out of poverty and address injustice and inequality,” he urged.
Obi noted that Africa grapples with high levels of insecurity, rampant corruption, increasing poverty, soaring youth unemployment, and stark inequality. He emphasised that over half of the world’s multidimensional poor reside in Sub-Saharan Africa, with countries like Nigeria and Congo reporting over 60% of their populations living in poverty and experiencing severe inequality. He also mentioned that non-state actors have taken control of security in some African nations.
Moreover, he pointed out that many African countries underinvest in crucial development sectors, such as health and education.
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