A new report has revealed that children account for 51 per cent of Nigeria’s multidimensional poor population, reflecting the devastating impact of poverty on the country’s youngest citizens.
The 2024 Situational Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Nigeria, jointly published by the Federal Government of Nigeria and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, highlights the pervasive challenges children face in health, education, and basic living standards.
According to the report obtained by Sunday PUNCH, 67.5 per cent of Nigerian children live in multidimensional poverty, encompassing deprivation in areas such as education, healthcare, and sanitation.
The burden is disproportionately heavier in rural areas, where nearly 90 per cent of children are poor.
States such as Bayelsa, Sokoto, Gombe, and Kebbi recorded figures exceeding 95 per cent.
Also, 47 per cent of children live in households below the national monetary poverty line, intensifying their vulnerability.
The report read, “67.5 per cent of children (aged 0–17 years) in Nigeria experience multiple forms of poverty (e.g., in health, education, living standards).
“Fifty-one per cent of all multidimensionally poor people in Nigeria are children. Stark variations can be seen by region and location. While more than 50 per cent of all children live in multidimensional poverty in each state, in four states (Bayelsa, Sokoto, Gombe and Kebbi) the figure rises to over 95 per cent. In rural areas alone, nearly 90 per cent of children experience multidimensional poverty.
“Forty-seven per cent of children live in households with income below the national monetary poverty line.”
The report emphasised that poverty’s impact on children is compounded by inadequate access to food, education, and safe living conditions.
Food insecurity is a pressing concern, with 31.8 million Nigerians unable to access sufficient food in 2024.
The report disclosed that 40 per cent of children under five years old are stunted, while 8 per cent suffer from wasting due to malnutrition and poor diets.
Rising food costs have exacerbated the situation, with the price of a low-cost, healthy diet increasing by 32 per cent between December 2023 and May 2024.
Poverty is also taking a toll on education, with 10.2 million primary school-aged children and 8.1 million secondary school-aged children out of school.
Alarmingly, only 27 per cent of children aged seven to 14 can read with comprehension, and a mere 25 per cent can solve basic mathematical problems.
The report further highlighted disparities between income groups. While 97 per cent of children from wealthier households complete primary education, only 34 per cent of children from poorer families do so.
Girls, particularly in rural areas, are disproportionately affected due to traditional norms and limited resources, with many dropping out of school by age 14.
The report highlighted severe deficiencies in access to basic sanitation and clean water, which are closely linked to poverty.
Seventy per cent of Nigerian households lack access to safe drinking water, and one in five households practises open defecation.
Among the poorest households, this figure rises to 50 per cent, increasing the risk of diseases such as diarrhoea, which remains a leading cause of child mortality.
Children living in poverty are also more likely to face violence and displacement. According to the report, 90 per cent of children under five years have experienced psychological aggression or physical punishment.
The ongoing insecurity in some parts of Nigeria has further worsened their plight, with 4.9 million children requiring humanitarian assistance in 2024.
Also, over 850 schoolchildren were abducted in 2023 alone, with the total number of abductions since 2014 exceeding 1,680.
Displacement caused by armed conflict disrupts education and leaves children without access to essential services.
The report also drew attention to the impact of climate change on Nigerian children, describing it as a “compounding crisis”.
Nigeria ranks as the second-highest risk country globally for children facing climate impacts.
Flooding, droughts, and heatwaves have displaced families and disrupted livelihoods, with over three million people affected by severe flooding in 2024.
The SitAn report recommended urgent interventions to address child poverty, including increased investment in health, education, and social protection.
It also called for improved access to clean water and sanitation, expanded nutrition programmes, and child-centred climate adaptation strategies.
By Sami Tunji @PUNCH
