A recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that two-thirds of Nigerian households cannot afford healthy and nutritious meals due to financial constraints.
The findings, part of the Nigeria General Household Survey – Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024), underscore the depth of multidimensional poverty and the eroding purchasing power caused by rising prices.
The survey noted, “Approximately two out of three households indicated being unable to eat healthy, nutritious or preferred foods because of lack of money in the last 30 days.
”Similarly, 63.8 percent of households ate only a few kinds of food due to lack of money, 62.4 percent were worried about not having enough food to eat, and 60.5 percent ate less than they thought they should.”
It also highlighted a sharp increase in food insecurity concerns, with households reporting worries about food shortages rising from 36.9 percent in the previous wave to 62.4 percent.
On energy access, the report revealed stark disparities. It stated, “82.2 percent of urban households have electricity, compared to 40.4 percent in rural areas. Nigerian households face an average of 6.7 power blackouts weekly.”
Traditional cooking methods remain prevalent, with 65 percent of households using three-stone stoves and 70.2 percent relying on wood as fuel, although the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is growing.
The report also pointed to challenges in sanitation and water access.
Many households lack toilet facilities and depend on boreholes or tube wells for drinking water.
Informal waste disposal methods are common, with 45.6 percent of households disposing of waste in bushes or streets.
Asset ownership across households has declined since 2018/19, but mobile phones remain widespread, with two-thirds of households owning one and 21.3 percent having internet access.
Despite financial struggles, the survey showed that 70.4 percent of households own their homes, with rural ownership at 80.1 percent compared to 49.1 percent in urban areas.
The survey paints a sobering picture of the economic realities facing Nigerian households, highlighting the urgent need for policies to address food insecurity, energy shortages, and declining living standards.