63% poverty rate in Nigeria worries UNICEF

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is concerned about the 63 per cent of Nigerians living in poverty and other forms of suffering.  Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop on Nigeria’s poverty profile and social register, yesterday, in Abuja, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Cristian Munduate, said she witnessed poverty across the country and its accompanying toll on people’s lives, including in the area of education.

“From Lagos to Sokoto, I have met individuals like Tutu, a struggling single mother, and Umar, a child deprived of education, who personify the reality of our poverty statistics.

“By 2022, about 63 per cent of our population faces deprivation, a disturbing figure that includes 70 million children,” she said. Munduate, however, applauded efforts put in place by government and development partners in combating poverty and vulnerability.

The workshop provided avenue for brainstorming on poverty and vulnerability in the country to proffer possible solutions, as well as expand Nigeria’s social register and establish a robust, inclusive and responsive social protection system.

She said: “Our goal is a Nigeria where all citizens, particularly women, children and Persons With Disability (PWDs), have access to strong social protection and not live on the edge of poverty.

“Amid global challenges such as oil price fluctuations, insecurity, socio-economic disparities and pandemics, poverty is further gripping our people, indicating a dire need for effective social protection interventions.”

This meeting, thus, symbolises hope for a future where every Nigerian feels recognised and safeguarded.” According to her, the essentiality of a comprehensive register to reach those most in need cannot be overstated. “I am grateful to the Social Protection Development Partners Group, our unwavering government and NASSCO for strengthening the National Social Register, a significant step towards our goal.”

Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said poverty and vulnerability remain pressing challenges facing the country.
Akume, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, Office of the SGF, Esuabana Nko-Asanye, said it was crucial to recognise the impact of poverty and vulnerability on Nigerians.

“Poverty and vulnerability remain pressing challenges in our country, and as we gather here today, it is crucial to recognise the impact of these issues on our fellow citizens. Despite progress in reducing poverty rate in recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic presented us with new challenges, pushing approximately 63 per cent of our population into multi-dimensional poverty of which almost 70 million are children.

“This setback emphasises the urgency to strengthen our efforts in mitigating these issues and improving the lives of millions of Nigerians,” the SGF said.

Further, Akume said Nigeria’s social inequalities further exacerbated the situation, as access to essential resources such as food, education, healthcare and infrastructure are unevenly distributed.

“Women, children and PWDs are among the most vulnerable groups facing poverty, ill-health, and economic shocks,” he said. The former governor of Benue State lavished praise on UNICEF and other partners for supporting the dialogue, adding that its outcome would impact positively on the country.