Health

Two-Thirds Households In Nigeria Lack Money For Healthy Food — NBS Survey

Published

1 year ago

November 22, 2024

607 Views

A survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has highlighted the harsh realities faced by Nigerian households, with two-thirds struggling to afford healthy and nutritious meals due to financial constraints. The report, titled Nigeria General Household Survey – Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024), sheds light on the deepening multidimensional poverty and the impact of diminishing purchasing power caused by rising prices of goods and services.

Food Insecurity

The report reveals widespread food insecurity, with 66.7% of households unable to eat nutritious or preferred foods in the past month due to a lack of money. Other findings include:

63.8% of households consuming limited types of food.
62.4% expressing worry about insufficient food supplies.
60.5% eating less than they felt necessary.

The survey also notes a significant increase in food insecurity over time. Between Waves 4 and 5, the proportion of households worried about inadequate food rose from 36.9% to 62.4%.

Energy Access and Power Blackouts

Access to electricity varies significantly between urban and rural areas, with 82.2% of urban households connected to the power grid compared to just 40.4% in rural areas. However, households face an average of 6.7 power blackouts per week.

Traditional cooking methods dominate, with 65.0% of households using three-stone stoves and 70.2% relying on wood as fuel. Despite this, the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is steadily increasing.

Basic Infrastructure and Sanitation

The survey highlights significant gaps in basic infrastructure:

Many households lack proper toilet facilities and rely on informal waste disposal methods, with 45.6% dumping waste in bushes or streets.
Tube wells or boreholes are the primary sources of drinking water for many households.

Asset Ownership and Housing

Asset ownership has declined since 2018/19. Key findings include:

66.7% of households owning mobile phones, while 21.3% have internet access.
70.4% of households own their homes, with rural ownership higher at 80.1% compared to 49.1% in urban areas.

Implications

The survey underscores the urgent need for policy interventions to address poverty, food insecurity, and inadequate infrastructure in Nigeria. Rising inflation, coupled with inconsistent access to energy and basic amenities, continues to erode the quality of life for millions of Nigerians.

Health

National Data Repository Index Numbers of patients currently on treatment for HIV in Nigeria as at May 13, 2026

Published

18 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Charles Flames

40 Views

Benue: 195,305

⁠Akwa Ibom: 158,201
⁠Lagos: 135,918
⁠Rivers: 90,055
⁠Nasarawa: 65,996
⁠FCT: 62,627
⁠Kaduna: 58,576
⁠Cross River: 57,765
⁠Enugu: 55,478
⁠Delta: 52,475
⁠Taraba: 51,840
⁠Abia: 50,038
⁠Imo: 47,863
⁠Plateau: 46,618
⁠Anambra: 46,602
⁠Adamawa: 42,074
⁠Kano: 41,093
⁠Kogi: 37,301
⁠Oyo: 33,133
⁠Niger: 33,057
⁠Ogun: 31,822
⁠Bauchi: 29,745
⁠Edo: 29,256
⁠Gombe: 28,037
⁠Osun: 25,018
⁠Borno: 24,527
⁠Ondo: 22,455
⁠Kebbi: 20,803
⁠Bayelsa: 19,549
⁠Katsina: 18,682
⁠Ebonyi: 15,474
⁠Kwara: 14,997
⁠Jigawa: 14,302
⁠Zamfara: 13,813
⁠Ekiti: 12,356
⁠Yobe: 10,716
⁠Sokoto: 10,511 Total: 1.70m

Health

FG to Launch Mega Agro-Industrial Livestock HUB in Abuja

Published

3 days ago

May 12, 2026

Charles Flames

60 Views

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the establishment of an Agro-Industrial Business Hub and Mega Livestock Processing Facility in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, gave the assurance during a high-level strategic meeting involving the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, ABIS Group and the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) in Abuja.

The Minister stated that the Ministry would work closely with ABIS Group, LPRES and other stakeholders to ensure the smooth take-off and successful implementation of the project. He explained that the engagement followed Nigeria’s participation in an international training programme on pastoral market access and inclusive contracting models held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

According to the Minister, the training, organised under the auspices of the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources and the African Pastoral Market Development Platform, provided valuable insights into strengthening livestock value chains, improving market systems and promoting quality assurance mechanisms across Africa.

Leader of the ABIS delegation, Ambassador Emmanuel Usman, commended the Ministry for facilitating the group’s participation in the training programme, which brought together delegates from Somalia, Botswana, Ethiopia and Kenya.

Also speaking, LPRES National Coordinator, Sanusi Abubakar, appreciated the Minister for supporting collaboration and inclusiveness in the livestock sector.

The General Manager of ABIS Group, Mr. Kujo Reigans, highlighted key lessons from the training, including the need for a unified quality assurance system, structured outgrower schemes and improved access to funding opportunities through the Development Bank of Nigeria.

He stated that these measures would enhance efficiency, traceability and competitiveness within Nigeria’s livestock industry.

The ABIS team also raised concerns over visa bottlenecks affecting expatriates working on the Abuja Mega Livestock Processing Facility project, calling for streamlined visa processes to ease project implementation and support the timely delivery of the agro-industrial hub in the FCT.

Health

Pharmacists body urges FG to establish presidential committee for sector

The association noted that local drug production currently accounts for just over 38 percent of national demand, far below the 70 percent target set in the National Drug Policy 2021.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 23, 2026

OCHEFA

102 Views

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) urges the Federal Government to establish a presidential committee dedicated to the pharmaceutical sector, implementing the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, and strengthening existing laws against fake drugs.

ACPN made the call while reacting to the government’s recent ban on imported drugs, describing the move as a strategic step toward strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing and conserving foreign exchange.

In a statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Ambrose Ezeh and National Secretary, Omokhafe Ashore, the association said the updated prohibition schedule covering drugs under HS Codes 3003.10.00.00 through 3004.90.00 signals renewed commitment to protecting domestic industry players.

The ACPN specifically highlighted the ban on the importation of commonly used medicines such as paracetamol tablets and syrups, metronidazole, clotrimazole, chloroquine, multivitamins, aspirin and folic acid, as well as topical preparations like penicillin and gentamycin ointments.

It described the development as a “step in the right direction” that would boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.

The association noted that local drug production currently accounts for just over 38 percent of national demand, far below the 70 percent target set in the National Drug Policy 2021.

It attributed this gap partly to continued dependence on imports, especially from China and India, which it said accounts for about 65 per cent of drug supply in the country.

It also urged reforms in pharmaceutical education and training to expand the pool of skilled professionals across industry, clinical, hospital and community practice.