Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has claimed that ₦3,000 is enough to sustain an average Nigerian for one day, arguing that poverty should be measured within the economic realities of individual countries.

Omokri made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he discussed Nigeria’s rising cost of living and the relevance of international poverty benchmarks.

The ambassador-designate said his position was based on a personal market survey he conducted alongside a journalist. According to him, they visited a market without security personnel and checked the prices of common food items, including yam, rice, maize and fruits.

He maintained that the prices they observed showed that an average Nigerian could meet basic daily needs with ₦3,000.

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However, Omokri stressed that the same amount could not provide a comparable standard of living in countries such as the United States, where the cost of goods and services is significantly higher.

Omokri argued that international poverty measurements should take into account differences in purchasing power and living costs from one country to another.

He referenced the World Bank’s global poverty benchmark, which uses a dollar-denominated threshold to assess extreme poverty, but questioned the usefulness of applying such figures without considering the economic conditions of the country being assessed.

According to him, the amount required to meet basic needs varies significantly depending on where an individual lives.

He explained that ₦3,000 might purchase certain essential food items for an average Nigerian, whereas an equivalent amount would be inadequate for basic daily expenses in the United States.

The ambassador-designate therefore called for greater context when discussing poverty figures and economic hardship.

Omokri said poverty should not be understood solely through a universal monetary figure because the purchasing power of money differs considerably across economies.

His comments come amid continued public debate over Nigeria’s cost of living, food prices and the purchasing power of households.

Food inflation and the rising prices of essential commodities have remained major concerns for Nigerian consumers, with many households struggling to adjust their spending to changing market conditions.

Omokri’s assertion that ₦3,000 can sustain an average Nigerian for a day is likely to generate further discussion, particularly among Nigerians who face different household sizes, income levels and living expenses.

While his market survey focused on selected food commodities, daily living costs can also include transportation, housing, healthcare, electricity, education and other necessities.

His argument, however, centred on the importance of placing poverty statistics within the specific economic and social context of each country.

The ambassador-designate maintained that comparisons between Nigeria and wealthier countries should therefore account for differences in prices, purchasing power and the overall cost of meeting basic needs.

The debate also highlights the broader challenge of translating international economic indicators into the everyday experiences of ordinary Nigerians.

For many households, the ability to afford food and other necessities remains a key measure of economic wellbeing, regardless of how global poverty thresholds are calculated.

Omokri’s remarks have consequently added another perspective to the ongoing national conversation about poverty, purchasing power and the true cost of living in Nigeria.