The National Bureau of Statistics has revealed that over 133 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor.
The NBS said this on Thursday at the National Multidimensional Poverty Index Report Launch. The NBS also said 63 per cent of Nigerians are poor due to a lack of access to health, education, and living standards, alongside unemployment and shocks
The Multidimensional Poverty Index is a multivariable form of poverty assessment that identifies deprivations in education, health, standard of living, work and shocks.
The Statistician General of Nigeria said that it is the first time they will conduct a standard multidimensional poverty survey in Nigeria.
“The survey was implemented in 2021 to 2022 and it is the largest survey with a sample size of over 56,610 people in 109 senatorial districts in the 36 stated of Nigeria,” he said.
Matthias Schmale, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, who revealed the findings from the report said 63 per cent of Nigerians are multidimensionally poor.
“Multidimensional poverty is more pronounced in rural areas where 72 per cent of people are poor compared to urban areas where we have 42 per cent.
“Gender disparity continues to affect the population with one in seven poor people living in a household in which a man has completed high school but the woman has not.” He said.
