UN REPORTS ON POVERTY: AN INJURY TO NIGERIANS’ STANDARD OF LIVING
By Olusegun HOSEA, 14th October, 2026
Hook
It is an embarrassment to a wonderful country like Nigeria, which is blessed with abundant natural and agricultural resources and human capital, to be overwhelmed by poverty and even top the UN Global Index reports on this subject from 2021 to 2024.
BACKGROUND
The United Nations reports on Nigeria,as captured by the national newspapers today which rated the country’s poverty level at 19.17%, have raised concerns among the good people of Nigeria, who are working assiduously to meet their daily needs. The efforts made by individual heads of households to ensure that their families live better lives cannot be disregarded because everyone is responsible for meeting the needs of their children.
Therefore, I think the government should rethink how to ensure that the living standards of the average Nigerian improve, considering the enormous opportunities presented by the natural resources given to us by God for the great advancement of humanity.
The reports given by this great international organisation on various countries raise serious concerns. I think it is an embarrassment to a wonderful country like Nigeria, which is blessed with abundant natural and agricultural resources and human capital, to be overwhelmed by poverty and even top the UN Global Index reports on this subject from 2021 to 2024. This is a slap in the face of a nation that is called the Giant of Africa in all ramifications.
Nigeria’s High Multidimensional Poverty Rate
According to the UNDP’s 2024 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index Report, Nigeria’s most recent survey data, collected in 2021, showed that 33 per cent of the population, representing approximately 73.7 million people, were living in multidimensional poverty. This percentage is on the high side, which ought not to be the case, given the favourable weather and climatic conditions bestowed on the country. These conditions provide the nation with massive opportunities to explore its resources for the benefit of its people and improve their living conditions. However, the country has failed to do so, hence the increase in the percentage.
In another dimension, another report also stated that 16.6 per cent of Nigerians were vulnerable to multidimensional poverty. This shows that many Nigerians were not free from poverty in various aspects of economic activity and life. It means that poverty extends beyond a lack of money to include inadequate access to education, healthcare, nutrition and decent living conditions. All these are factors that contribute to human development in a decent country, but it is unfortunate that the level of human development we aspire to achieve has not been realised despite the number of years of our democratic practices.
Nigeria’s Poverty Challenge and Global Standing
Nigeria has attracted international attention because of the enormous number of people living in poverty.
The World Bank’s April 2025 Nigeria Development Update estimated that approximately 130.1 million Nigerians were living on less than $3.65 per day, based on the poverty benchmark used in that report. Eating three square meals a day in the country now takes the grace of God, as our leaders, who ought to utilise the country’s natural resources for the development of the people in all aspects of life, have not made the welfare of their citizens a priority, unlike leaders in other developed countries. Their concern has been how to enrich their families with the commonwealth of the nation at the expense of their suffering citizens.
The votes of the people, which brought them into power, no longer seem to matter to them because they have achieved success in their own ways. Therefore, fulfilling political promises made to the electorate has now become a puzzle for them to solve.
Similarly, World Bank documentation highlighting the large number of people affected shows that Nigeria’s poverty challenge should be a great concern to any serious nation that values the development of its citizens. This level of poverty has caused significant harm to the nation’s development. Individual families also share in this discomfort, as most households hardly have enough resources to combat the effects of poverty.
To this end, the number of beggars on the streets is on the high side, particularly in the northern part of the country. This structural human deficit has also spread to other parts of the country, including the southern and western regions, making it an embarrassment to the leadership in many states.
Although different reports use different poverty thresholds and methodologies in categorising Nigeria as one of the poorest nations, it is important to identify the specific report and year before describing Nigeria as the world’s poorest country or claiming that it ranked first globally. This latest UN report falls into this category, ranking Nigeria above Afghanistan in poverty-related assessments.
A country blessed with oil and gas, together with other non-oil resources, is now facing this predicament despite having great leaders and human capital development potential. I think this situation calls for an overhaul of all aspects of economic development.
Poverty Despite Abundant Natural Resources
Nigeria possesses substantial natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas, limestone and agricultural resources. However, millions of citizens continue to struggle to meet their basic needs.
This raises important questions about how the country’s natural wealth is managed, distributed and converted into improved living conditions.
The gap between Nigeria’s resource potential and the living conditions of many citizens makes poverty a significant development concern.
Rising Cost of Living and Food Insecurity
The rising cost of food and other essential commodities has placed considerable pressure on Nigerian households.
When food prices increase faster than household incomes, families may be forced to reduce their food consumption, compromise on nutritional quality or divert money from healthcare and education to feeding.
The high price of petroleum has also added salt to the injury, as the prices of most goods and services have been affected by the cost of this commodity. This alone makes life difficult for commuters and transporters in our country.
The World Bank has identified high inflation and weak growth in real incomes as important factors contributing to Nigeria’s poverty challenges.
Poor Access to Quality Education
Poverty can prevent children from accessing quality education, particularly when families cannot afford school materials, transportation, uniforms and other educational expenses.
Children from economically disadvantaged households may be forced to leave school early or engage in activities to support their families.
This creates a cycle in which limited education reduces future employment opportunities and makes it more difficult for families to escape poverty.
Although the government has introduced measures to provide loans to students who gain admission into higher institutions so that they can complete their education through NELFUND, and this is commendable, the fact remains that the cost of living and inflation must be addressed to make education more affordable.
Inadequate Healthcare and Poor Living Conditions
Poverty also affects access to healthcare, safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, electricity and decent housing.
The UNDP’s 2024 report identifies deprivation in health, education and living standards as major dimensions of multidimensional poverty. For Nigeria, deprivation in living standards contributed 45 per cent of the overall multidimensional poverty measure, while education contributed 35.5 per cent and health contributed 19.5 per cent.
These figures demonstrate why poverty cannot be measured solely by income.
Unemployment and Inadequate Job Opportunities
Limited access to decent and productive employment remains a significant challenge for Nigeria. The World Bank has highlighted the difficulty of creating enough quality jobs for the approximately 3.5 million people entering Nigeria’s labour force annually.
Weak job creation and limited entrepreneurial opportunities further complicate efforts to reduce poverty. Without sufficient employment opportunities, many young people struggle to achieve financial independence, while households remain vulnerable to economic shocks.
Rural Poverty and Agricultural Challenges
Many rural communities depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. However, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to financing, insecurity, poor storage facilities and difficulties transporting produce can undermine agricultural productivity and household incomes.
When farmers cannot produce sufficient food or sell their produce profitably, both rural livelihoods and national food security suffer.
Investments in agricultural infrastructure, irrigation, modern farming techniques, storage and rural roads could help improve productivity and reduce poverty.
Insecurity and Its Impact on Poverty
Insecurity can worsen poverty by disrupting farming, trade, transportation, education and other economic activities.
When communities experience violence, displacement or the destruction of livelihoods, families may lose their homes, land, businesses and sources of income.
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) POSITION
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has established that poverty in Nigeria should be measured not only by income but also by access to healthcare, education, clean water, sanitation and other essential living standards.
In its 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index report, produced in collaboration with development partners, the NBS reported that approximately 133 million Nigerians, representing 63 per cent of the population at the time, were multidimensionally poor.
However, the recently reported UN figure of 19.17 per cent should not be confused with the NBS’s findings, as different poverty measures and reporting periods can produce different results.
The NBS emphasises the importance of reliable statistical data to guide government policies and targeted interventions aimed at reducing poverty and improving Nigerians’ living conditions.
THE WAY FORWARD
The way forward in addressing the country’s poverty level should include promoting productive employment and entrepreneurship to improve the well-being of citizens. There should also be support for agriculture and local industries that cater to the needs of citizens across all strata of the economy, thereby providing relief from hardship.
Furthermore, improving access to quality education and healthcare delivery should be among the government’s priorities to improve the living standards of its citizens.
The government should also expand social protection for vulnerable households to help address their economic problems. Investing in electricity, roads, water and sanitation for the benefit of the people should also be considered by the government if it wants citizens to live above the poverty line.
Lastly, strengthening transparency and accountability in public spending and involving the media in all aspects of governance to ensure accurate reporting of government activities to the public should be intensified. Implementing policies that help citizens cope with the rising cost of living should also be a major concern for the leadership at all levels of the three tiers of government.
CONCLUSION
Nigeria’s poverty figures present a serious challenge to the country’s development aspirations. A nation blessed with substantial human and natural resources must confront the gap between its economic potential and the living conditions of its citizens.
The central question is not simply why poverty persists, but what governments at every level are doing to reduce it. These UN reports on poverty represent an injury to Nigerians’ standard of living, and the priority should be to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
