A recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has uncovered alarming levels of food insecurity across Nigeria. The Nigeria General Household Survey – Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024) found that two-thirds of households cannot afford healthy and nutritious meals due to financial constraints. The survey highlights how rising prices and multidimensional poverty have severely eroded the purchasing power of Nigerian families. It also notes an average of 6.7 weekly power outages, further complicating daily life.

Key Findings on Food Insecurity

The report revealed the extent of food-related challenges:

• 67% of households could not afford healthy or preferred foods in the past 30 days due to lack of money.
• 63.8% ate fewer types of food, while 62.4% worried about running out of food.
• 60.5% consumed less food than they thought they needed.

The survey also showed a sharp rise in food insecurity from previous years. Between Wave 4 and Wave 5, the proportion of households worried about insufficient food increased from 36.9% to 62.4%.

Access to Energy and Infrastructure

The survey exposed stark disparities in energy access:

• 82.2% of urban households have electricity compared to only 40.4% in rural areas.
• Most families rely on three-stone stoves (65%) and wood as fuel (70.2%), though liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) use is increasing.

On infrastructure:

• 70.4% of households own their homes, but rural ownership (80.1%) far exceeds urban ownership (49.1%).
• Many households lack proper toilet facilities, with informal waste disposal methods dominating.

Technology and Asset Ownership

Despite economic challenges, two-thirds of households own mobile phones, and 21.3% have internet access. However, overall asset ownership has declined since 2018/19.

Broader Implications

The survey underscores the urgent need for policies targeting poverty alleviation, access to affordable food, and improvements in energy and infrastructure. Without intervention, the growing financial burden on families could worsen nationwide inequality and instability. The findings also spotlight the challenges faced by rural communities, where limited access to basic amenities further deepens poverty