Nigeria's Political Campaigns Amid Rising Poverty Concerns

As Nigeria enters the political campaign season, the focus should be on the pressing economic issues facing citizens rather than mere political slogans. The World Bank has reported an increase in the national poverty rate from 61% in 2024 to 63% in 2025, indicating that approximately 140 million Nigerians live below the national poverty line.

This worsening situation is attributed to high inflation and weak income recovery. Additionally, the National Bureau of Statistics has estimated that about 133 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor, facing deprivation in education, healthcare, and living conditions.

While headline inflation fell from 15.91% in June 2026 to 15.43% in July 2026, food inflation rose to 20.31% in July from 17.52% in June, highlighting the disconnect between economic indicators and the real-life struggles of Nigerians. The article stresses that political campaigns must address these economic realities rather than treating them as mere statistics.