Living conditions of Nigerians worsened in last two year, says report

By : Waliat Musa

Date: 26 August 2022 3:17am WAT

[files] A man browse for traditional medicaments at a market in Katsina on December 14, 2021. - Africa's most populous country is struggling with double-digit inflation, especially high food prices, and many Nigerians are looking for ways to save on basic expenses. (Photo by Aminu ABUBAKAR / AFP)

A survey by Afrobarometer, a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network, has shown that Nigerians’ assessment of their personal living conditions and the country’s economic situation have worsened dramatically in the last two years.

According to the report, many Nigerians have grown more discontent about their economic conditions and report higher poverty level.

The proportion of citizens experiencing moderate or high levels of poverty has doubled since 2017, as majority experienced shortage of basic necessities, such as food, water and medical care during the year preceding the survey.

“Citizens’ ratings of government’s performance on key economic issues, including keeping prices stable, managing the economy and reducing poverty are overwhelmingly negative,” the report stated.

“More than eight in 10 Nigerians (85 per cent) say the country’s economic condition is bad, a 27 percentage-point increase compared to 2020, while six in 10 (62 per cent) describe it as very bad.

“The proportion of citizens who describe their personal living conditions as fairly bad or very bad increased by 24 percentage points since 2020, from 47 per cent to 71 per cent, continuing a worsening trend since 2014,” part of the report read.

The survey also noted that eight in 10 Nigerians (79 per cent) experienced moderate or high levels of poverty during the previous year, which was double the proportion recorded in 2014 and 2017 (38 per cent).

Respondents cited management of the economy (39 per cent) and unemployment (35 per cent) as the second and third most important problems they want the government to address. These were outstripped by crime and security (41 per cent).

Along with its partners in Nigeria, led by Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Polls (NOIPolls), the survey conducted face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice, eight survey rounds in about 39 countries have been completed since 1999, with round nine surveys (2021/2022) currently underway.

Previous surveys were conducted in Nigeria in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2017, and 2020.