UNDP Reports 17.9 Million Nigerians Slipped into Poverty

World Food Day is celebrated annually on October 16, with the 2026 theme being “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.” The Food and Agriculture Organisation calls for global collaboration to ensure food security.

Nigeria faces a severe hunger and poverty crisis, with the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty highlighting the urgent need for intervention. The United Nations Development Programme's 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index report indicates that an additional 17.9 million Nigerians fell into poverty between 2021 and 2024, increasing the multidimensional poverty rate from 33 percent to 38.7 percent.

This marks the largest increase among five countries experiencing a rise in poverty. The report estimates that 90.1 million Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty in 2024.

The Nigerian federal government has introduced measures to alleviate living costs, including a 30-day discount on petrol prices, but opposition parties argue these measures are insufficient for long-term relief.