Sokoto State, a state in the Northwest of the country, has emerged with the highest number of poor people to lead the 2022 poverty index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
NBS released the 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) on Thursday in Abuja.
According to NBS, 133 million Nigerians are dimensionally poor, a figure which it said represents 63 per cent of the country’s population.
“Over half of the population who are multidimensionally poor cook with dung, wood or charcoal, rather than clean energy. High deprivations are also apparent in sanitation, time to healthcare, food insecurity, and housing.
“Multidimensional poverty is higher in rural areas, where 72% of people are poor, compared to 42% of people in urban areas. Approximately 70% of Nigeria’s population lives in rural areas, yet these areas are home to 80% of poor people; the intensity of rural poverty is also higher: 42% in rural areas compared to 37% in urban areas.
The report shows that sixty-five per cent of the poor people—86 million—live in the North, while 35%—nearly 47 million—live in the South.
The report further indicates that poverty levels across the States vary significantly, with the proportion of the population (incidence) living in multidimensional poverty ranging from a low of 27% in Ondo to a high of 91% in Sokoto.
According to NBS, the proportion of poor people and the intensity of their poverty shows the poorest states include Sokoto, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Kebbi, Gombe and Yobe.
Clem Agba, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning said the data in the report provide insightful information at national and state levels, placing at the disposal of actors and policymakers which is a tool to pinpoint levels of deprivations experienced by people up to senatorial districts.
He said the report will drive the kind of policy changes required for the reforms needed, and the need for State and private sector participation to move the needle with every targeted investment effort. The Nigeria MPI is thus positioned to play a pivotal role in the hands of discerning stakeholders: policymakers at various levels of government, academia, civil society and the public.
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