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IT is one of those proverbial cases in which you do not know whether to laugh or cry. It is benumbing. Nigeria used to be the country with the largest population of poor people in the world but the statistics, as recently revealed in a viral statement by Yemi Kale, former head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), shifted slightly recently. It so happened that India, the world’s most populated country with some 1.46 billion people, recently beat Nigeria to the sad top spot. With no fewer than 89 million Nigerians currently living in poverty, representing about 40 percent of the population, Nigeria has emerged as the country with the second-largest population of poor people in the world. According to Kale, who spoke during a presentation at The Platform Nigeria’s Independence Day event in Lagos, only India surpasses Nigeria in the number of citizens trapped below the poverty line. But then, Nigeria’s dismal figure is still larger than the entire population of most countries globally.

Kale, who is currently Group Chief Economist at Afreximbank, linked the worsening poverty levels to years of delayed reforms and policy missteps which pushed millions into hardship while leaving households vulnerable to inflation and fiscal shocks. In his view, the corrective measures currently being implemented should have begun over a decade ago when early warning signs of decline were already evident. The failure to act, he said, eroded investor confidence, constrained growth, and weakened the economy’s capacity to generate jobs. Hear him: ‘To grasp the magnitude of this number, we can consider that fewer than 20 of the world’s 195 recognised countries even have a population bigger than Nigeria’s number of poor people. And these dynamics are compounding. Together, these trends threaten the very promise of independence that every Nigerian should have the opportunity to thrive at home. So, what went wrong? Well, there are many reasons, but a large part of it lies in policy missteps and costly delays in implementing needed reforms. Key adjustments, some finally underway, should have begun over a decade ago, when warning signs were already evident. Acting sooner would have significantly softened the impact on households and businesses, sparing the economy years of compounding fiscal and inflationary pressures. Instead, distortive monetary and exchange rate policies lingered, eroding investor confidence and choking off investment.’

To say the very least, this is an extremely sad story. Nigeria is vastly resourced naturally, and is blessed with a dynamic, talented and hardworking population. Around the world, Nigerians continue to be one of the most successful migrant groups, proving the essential point that it is the Nigerian environment that, chiefly on account of poor leadership and structural imbalances, basically limits potential. It is no coincidence that very often, Nigerians are cited as one of the most successful and educated migrant groups in the United States, excelling in fields like medicine, engineering, law, and business, with their success story attributed to a strong emphasis on education, resilience, and hard work, which allows them to achieve high levels of academic and professional success. Nigerian-Americans are reported to have more post-graduate degrees than any other racial or ethnic groups in the United States, and it has been pointed out that although they account for less than 1 percent of the country’s black population, they constitute nearly 25 percent of all Black students at the Harvard Business School. Would these Nigerians be so successful if they were based in Nigeria?

You would think that a country with such a frightening level of poverty as Nigeria’s would jealously gaurd its borders and resources, but that is categorically not the case. As we pointed out in previous editorials, in 2024, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Solid Minerals disclosed that illegal mining activities in Nigeria was costing the country about $9bn annually, and most of it is perpetrated by foreigners. The implication is that even as the vast majority of Nigerians literally scrounge and starve, foreign criminals are making a killing at their expense. As we have said time and again, governments at all levels must address poverty decisively. According to the World Bank, some 139 million Nigerians are trapped in poverty, and we have seen no reason to change our view that the situation requires a deliberate tweaking of policies to bring immediate relief to the populace. This is actually an irreducible minimum.

There is no way to defend the idea that good leaders are creating a poverty-stricken society. The greed and selfishness of the political class must be addressed squarely. There is no reason governance should continue to be a superstructure erect ed on the people’s pain. We urge governments at all levels to address poverty squarely and give Nigerians a better deal. Governance is problem solving.

The Qur’an says: ‘Give the relative his right, and the needy and the traveler [as well]. That is better for those who seek God’s pleasure, and it is they who are the felicitous.’ (Qur’an – 30:38)

Charity is one of the attributes of the Allah-wary and real believers. The Qur’an says: ‘This is the Book, there is no doubt in it, guidance to the righteous, who believe in the Unseen, and maintain the prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them.’ (Qur’an – 2:2-3)

‘The faithful are only those whose hearts tremble [with awe] when Allah is mentioned, and when His verses are recited to them, they increase their faith, and who put their trust in their Lord, maintain the prayer and spend out of what We have provided them. They are truly the faithful. They shall have ranks near their Lord, forgiveness, and a noble provision.’ (Qur’an – 8:2-4)

The fact that charitable giving serves as a way to bring justice, balance, and kindness to every society and community is well known, but more than that, charity has benefits for the donors themselves. Hence, the Prophet (SAW) said, ‘The upper hand is better than the lower hand.’

This world is in the form of an echo. There will be echoes of whatever we do, and it will return to us. Therefore, if we give, we will receive. The Qur’an says,

‘Whoever does righteous deeds, it is for his own benefit, and whoever does evil, it is against himself; your Creator and Nurturer is never unjust to His human creatures.’ (Qur’an – 41:46)

Almighty Allah said in a Qudsi hadith, ‘Spend in charity, O son of Adam, and I will spend on you.’

Although those who give in charity should do so without any hope of a return, and simply to please Allah SWT, there is nonetheless a noble reward for them. In other words, through charity, the giver does not lose his or her income and wealth, because Allah SWT guarantees that He will multiply it for the giver. The return may be increased to twice the amount given, or even more than 700 times the initial amount. The degree of the reward differs based on the significance of the charitable act and the sincerity of the giver.

‘The example of those who spend their money in the cause of Allah is like a seed that sprouts forth seven pods; in each pod there is one hundred seeds; and Allah multiplies for whoever He chooses, and Allah is Encompassing, Knowledgeable.’ (Qur’an – 2:261)

‘The example of those who spend their money seeking Allah’s grace and to save their souls is like the example of a garden on high ground which is subjected to a heavy rain, and because of that it produces double its crop! And if no heavy rain comes, then light rain is enough. And Allah is Seer over all you do.’ (Qur’an – 2:265)

‘To these We grant twice the reward for that they have been patient. And they counter evil with good, and from Our provisions to them, they give.’ (Qur’an – 28:54)

‘Indeed the charitable men and charitable women, and those who lend Allah a good loan – it shall be multiplied for them, and there is a noble reward for them.’ (Qur’an – 57:18)

‘That which you give in usury in order that it may increase people’s wealth does not increase with Allah. But any contribution that you have placed seeking His presence – it is they who will be given a manifold increase.’ (Qur’an – 30:39)

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, ‘Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives another except that God increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of God except that God raises his status.’

Moreover, Allah SWT will give the best reward in the Hereafter to those who spend out of their property:

‘Whatever you have been given are the wares of the life of this world, but what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who have faith and who put their trust in their Lord; . Those who answer their Lord, . and they spend out of what We have provided them with.’ (Qur’an – 42:36-38)

Charity is an honorable act of kindness and an unselfish act of worship. It is a way to purify one’s heart and mind. The Prophet (SAW) said,

‘Give (regular charity) out of your property, for truly it is a purifier, and be kind to your relatives and acknowledge the rights of the poor, neighbors and (those in need who seek your help).’

By sacrificing part of one’s wealth and giving it in charity, the individual guarantees protection from tragedy and misfortune and removes the problems of ordinary life and beyond. The Prophet (SAW) said,

‘Verily charity appeases the wrath of Allah and avoids bad death.’

The giver will obtain Allah’s protection on the Day of Judgment. In the well-known Hadith about the seven types of people who will receive Allah’s shade or protection on that Day, one of those listed is:

‘A man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given.’

On the day when all other shade will be gone, Allah SWT will shade and shelter those who give charity and care for the poor.

Charity is not just giving money, but like all righteous deeds, there are some conditions for the acceptance of charity. The Qur’an says:

‘Piety is not to turn your faces to the east or the west; rather, piety is [personified by] those who have faith in God and the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets, and who give their wealth, for the love of Him, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler and the beggar.’ (Qur’an – 2:177)

Charity should be for the sake of Allah and in His way. In many verses of the Qur’an about charity, it has been emphasized that it should be in the way of Allah.

It should be for the welfare of the poor and without any expectations of reward. It should not be followed with reproaches or harm. It should not be given for the purpose of pretense or to show off.

‘Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and then do not follow up what they have spent with reproaches and affronts (with insult nor harm), they shall have their reward near their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve. An honourable word with pardon is better than a charity followed by affront. Allah is all-sufficient, most forbearing. O you who have faith! Do not render your charities void by reproaches and affronts, like those who spend their wealth to be seen by people and have no faith in Allah and the Last Day. Their parable is that of a rock covered with soil: a downpour strikes it, leaving it bare. They have no power over anything of what they have earned, and Allah does not guide the faithless lot.’ (Qur’an – 2:262-264)