ActionAid Nigeria Urges Housing Investment Amid Poverty Crisis

ActionAid Nigeria has called for increased investment in affordable housing, social protection, and economic justice, stating that approximately 133 million Nigerians, or 63 percent of the population, live in multidimensional poverty according to the National Bureau of Statistics’ 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index. The organization referenced World Bank estimates indicating that 123 million Nigerians, or 50.8 percent, lived in extreme monetary poverty in 2025.

This call was made in a statement issued in Abuja to mark the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. ActionAid Nigeria cited a September 2026 assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, estimating that 36.3 million Nigerians faced acute food insecurity.

Additionally, UNICEF reported that about 11 million children under five experienced severe food poverty in 2024. The organization identified a housing deficit of approximately 17 million units, emphasizing that inadequate shelter exacerbates poverty among vulnerable groups.

Dr. Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, stated that poverty is sustained by inequality and exclusion, calling for public budgets that prioritize citizens' needs.