Nigerians living in poverty rise to nearly 61%

Note: The NBS report shows increasing wealth inequality throughout the country, but especially in the Niger Delta States.  In the South-South the GINI coefficient moved from 0.3849 in 2004 to 0.434 in 2010; in the South-East it moved from 0.376 to 0.4442.  Overall national change in inequality during the period was 4.1% but in the SS it was 12.8% and in the SE 18.1%.  This suggests that the wealthier oil producing states of the Niger Delta are expanding the gap between "haves" and "have nots."

BBC

13 February 2012

Nigerians living in poverty rise to nearly 61%

Poverty has risen in Nigeria, with almost 100 million people living on less than a $1 (£0.63) a day, despite economic growth, statistics have shown.

The National Bureau of Statistics said 60.9% of Nigerians in 2010 were living in "absolute poverty" - this figure had risen from 54.7% in 2004.

The bureau predicted this rising trend was likely to continue.

Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer but the sector has been tainted by accusations of corruption.

According to the report, absolute poverty is measured by the number of people who can afford only the bare essentials of shelter, food and clothing.

North-south divide

The NBS, a government agency, said there was a paradox at the heart of Nigeria as the economy was going from strength to strength, mainly because of oil production - yet Nigerians were getting poorer.

"Despite the fact that the Nigerian economy is growing, the proportion of Nigerians living in poverty is increasing every year, although it declined between 1985 and 1992, and between 1996 and 2004," head of the NBS bureau Yemi Kale said.