CEM REPORT, HUMANITY | An analysis of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (2022) has revealed that Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region bears the highest number of people living in multidimensional poverty in Nigeria.
The report earlier the by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and analysed by data technology company StatiSense list the most affected to comprise states such as Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa
Akwa Ibom leads the chart with 5.08 million persons living in multidimensional poverty. This represents over 71 per cent of its total population of 5.451 million people estimated by the National Population Commission (NPC).
Rivers follows with 4.4 million, representing 62.4 per cent of the state’s estimated 7.47 million population while Cross River State stands with 3.44 million people living in multidimensional poverty, representing 75.6 per cent of the state’s population.
In comparison to the aforementioned states, Edo and Delta States had a lower proportion of persons living in multidimensional poverty. Edo has 1.4 million people living in multidimensional poverty, accounting for 35.4 per cent of its estimated 3.9 million population, while Delta has 2.73 million people living in poverty, accounting for slightly less than half of its population.
Bayelsa State harbours 2.61 million people living in multidimensional poverty, constituting a concerning 88 per cent of the state’s estimated 2.9 million population.
These figures bring to question the use of the 13 per cent derivation funds specially allocated to oil-rich regions from their natural resources. Bayelsa for instance in 2021 received ₦87.13 billion from the federation account yet a larger share of its population is in multidimensional poverty.
