By Adé Yẹmí
When the World Bank recently warned that more Nigerians are sinking deeper into poverty, it should have been treated as a national emergency. But in a country obsessed with politics and short term victories, the human suffering hidden in those numbers barely caused a ripple.
The latest report reveals a stark reality: over 129 million Nigerians, more than half the population, now live below the national poverty line. Compared to 40.1 percent in 2018, this is not just a red flag; it is a blaring siren that something is fundamentally broken.
The painful irony is that many of the government’s so called reform policies, designed to save the economy, have made life unbearable for ordinary people.
The removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira were supposed to correct economic distortions, but what Nigerians got instead was soaring inflation and historic levels of hunger.
Prices of basic foods like rice and beans have doubled or even tripled in several parts of the country, turning everyday meals into luxury items.
The international poverty line, which stands at two dollars fifteen cents per day, now feels like a dream for nearly 47 percent of the population.
The government’s response? Cash handouts. About 15 million households will reportedly receive seventy five thousand naira in installments.
While it sounds noble on paper, it feels like putting a bandage on a gunshot wound. Poverty on this scale is not just about money; it is about systems.
Failing education, broken healthcare, insecurity, and collapsing infrastructure continue to hold millions hostage.
Without a massive and sustained effort to create productive jobs and secure the food supply, these handouts will barely delay the inevitable.
Environmental disasters like the devastating 2024 floods, which wiped out over one point five million hectares of cropland and affected nine million people, have worsened an already bleak situation.
Meanwhile, armed conflicts and displacements continue to disrupt farming, pushing food insecurity to tragic levels. In a vicious cycle, poverty fuels conflict, and conflict deepens poverty.
If Nigeria’s leaders continue to prioritize political games over meaningful reform, the country could see poverty levels rise to 52 percent by 2026, according to the World Bank.
This should terrify anyone who cares about the country’s future. Poverty at this scale is not just an economic problem; it is a ticking time bomb.
When millions have nothing left to lose, the entire society becomes dangerously unstable.
The real tragedy is that it does not have to be this way. Nigeria is blessed with talent, resources, and a youthful population that, if properly harnessed, could lift the nation out of this crisis. But until the government treats poverty with the urgency, planning, and full national mobilization it would devote to a war, things will only get worse.
It is time for Nigeria to wake up. Poverty is not just another statistic. It is a matter of survival.
