A recent study released in Maiduguri, Borno State has revealed that the northern states of Nigeria are ranked as the poorest, with an average poverty index ranging from 0.351 to 0.425.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the study, known as the 2022 Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI), highlights the significant challenges faced by these states in terms of poverty and development.
In contrast, the southern region, consisting of 17 states, recorded an average poverty index of 0.25. Gombe and Yobe states in the North East had the highest poverty index, ranging from 0.351 to 0.5.
The report shows that among the North Central states, only Plateau had a poverty index of 0.5.
According to the MPI, the North West region had the highest number of poor states, including Sokoto, Kebbi, and Jigawa, with a poverty index of 0.5. In the southern region, Bayelsa recorded the highest poverty index. The remaining 16 states in the South had an average poverty index ranging from 0.201 to 0.25.
The MPI Dashboard further revealed that out of the 17 states in the South, only Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, Imo, and Lagos had the lowest poverty index, ranging from 0.00 to 0.150. The study also warned that approximately 7.1 million Nigerians may face increased poverty, with many families expected to lose over N5,500 per month.
In the North, 10 states fell within the category of a poverty index between 0.251 and 0.350. These states include Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Kano, and Katsina. In the South, Cross River, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, and Ogun states recorded a poverty index ranging from 0.251 to 0.350.
