Kaduna — Poverty level in Kaduna State increased from 67 percent in 2001 to 95 per cent in 2013, a Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abdullahi Aliyu, has said.

Aliyu, who was a guest speaker at the annual general congress/National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) in Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, kicked against what he described as the use of old approach by the state government to eradicate poverty.

Aliyu said in 2001, out of 100 people, 67 were poor, but that the percentage of poor people has now increased to 95 per cent.

"Kaduna poverty problems cannot be solved using the same kind of thinking with which it was created. In spite of several poverty alleviation programmes, poverty is still on the increase because of the government's approach. Kaduna population is another problem causing poverty, because the government has failed to utilise the population, land, water and other natural resources to improve the lives of its citizenry. The population in wards in Kaduna is the highest in Nigeria. It could be of advantage if government adopts a structure that will address the poverty level", he said.