Survey highlights deepening poverty, food insecurity, and energy challenges in Nigeria

The latest Nigeria General Household Survey – Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024) by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) offers a sobering glimpse into the challenges faced by Nigerian households. From deepening poverty and food insecurity to limited energy access, the report paints a stark picture of everyday life across the country.

Multidimensional Poverty and Economic Strain

Rising inflation has significantly eroded the purchasing power of Nigerians, amplifying the multidimensional poverty experienced by many. This reality resonates across various aspects of life, as detailed in the survey.

Food Insecurity on the Rise

The report highlights alarming statistics about food insecurity:

• Nearly two-thirds of households reported being unable to afford healthy or preferred foods in the past month.
• 63.8 percent resorted to eating limited types of food due to financial constraints.
• 60.5 percent acknowledged eating less than they believed they should, reflecting severe food access challenges.

The trend is worsening, with households reporting increased anxiety over food shortages—jumping from 36.9 percent in the last survey cycle to 62.4 percent in the current wave.

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Energy Access and Power Outages

Energy access remains deeply unequal, with 82.2 percent of urban households having electricity compared to just 40.4 percent in rural areas. Compounding the issue, households experience an average of 6.7 power outages per week, underlining the inadequacies in the nation’s energy infrastructure.

Traditional cooking methods dominate, with 65 percent of households relying on three-stone stoves and 70.2 percent using wood as fuel, though liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) use is rising.

Housing and Basic Amenities

The survey also sheds light on housing and sanitation conditions:

• 70.4 percent of households own their homes, with rural ownership at 80.1 percent compared to 49.1 percent in urban areas.
• Many households lack proper toilet facilities, and 45.6 percent dispose of waste informally, such as in bushes or streets.
• Drinking water sources often include tube wells and boreholes, underscoring infrastructural gaps.

Declining Asset Ownership

Asset ownership has fallen since 2018/19. Despite this decline, two-thirds of households own mobile phones, and 21.3 percent have access to the internet, showcasing some progress in digital connectivity amidst widespread economic struggles.

This survey underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the widening poverty gap, food insecurity, and infrastructural deficiencies that continue to challenge millions of Nigerians.