Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has sparked debate after claiming that an average Nigerian can survive on N3,000 a day.
Omokri made the statement during a television appearance on Sunday Politics, where he discussed the rising cost of living and the way poverty is measured in different countries.
According to him, economic conditions must be considered when assessing how much money people need to survive.
Omokri Says He Checked Market Prices
Omokri said he personally visited markets with a journalist to check the prices of common food items.
He said they priced several basic commodities, including:
- Yam
- Rice
- Maize
- Fruits
Based on what he observed, Omokri argued that N3,000 could provide enough money for an average Nigerian to meet basic daily food needs.
He contrasted that situation with countries such as the United States, where the same amount of money would have significantly less purchasing power.
“Context Matters”
Omokri argued that poverty figures should not be interpreted without considering the economic environment in which people live.
His position is that the amount required to meet basic needs varies from one country to another because prices, wages and purchasing power are different.
He therefore questioned whether international poverty benchmarks can fully capture the realities of Nigerians living on low incomes.
What the Poverty Line Means
The debate also touches on the way international poverty is measured.
The World Bank uses purchasing-power-parity calculations to account for differences in prices between countries when establishing its international poverty lines.
In June 2025, the World Bank updated its international extreme-poverty threshold to $3 per person per day, measured in 2021 purchasing-power-parity terms. The new figure replaced the previous $2.15 benchmark.
The international poverty line is primarily designed to allow comparisons between countries. Individual countries can also use national poverty lines that reflect their own economic conditions.
N3,000 Is Not the Same as a Full Cost of Living
Omokri’s argument focuses largely on whether N3,000 can cover basic daily needs, particularly food.
However, a person’s overall cost of living includes much more than food.
Daily or household expenses can include:
- Housing and rent
- Transportation
- Healthcare
- Education
- Electricity
- Communication
- Clothing
- Other essential expenses
This means being able to purchase food with N3,000 does not necessarily mean that someone earning or spending that amount is above the poverty line.
Why Omokri’s Comment Has Drawn Attention
The claim comes as Nigerians continue to deal with higher prices and pressure on household incomes.
Omokri’s broader argument is that poverty must be understood within its local economic context rather than through currency conversion alone.
Whether N3,000 is enough to live on, however, depends heavily on what “live” means and which expenses are included.
The debate surrounding Omokri’s comments therefore goes beyond the price of food. It raises a bigger question about how poverty and purchasing power should be measured in Nigeria’s current economic climate.
