ActionAid Nigeria has called for urgent government action to address poverty, urging increased investment in affordable housing, social protection and job creation to improve the living conditions of millions of citizens.
The organisation made the call in Abuja to mark the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, warning that economic growth must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of vulnerable households.
ActionAid Nigeria cited the National Bureau of Statistics’ 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index, which estimated that 133 million Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty, alongside World Bank estimates that 123 million people experienced extreme monetary poverty in 2025.
The organisation noted that the figures measure different dimensions of poverty but underscore the scale of deprivation and the need for targeted interventions.
It also highlighted Nigeria’s housing challenge, citing a 2025 World Bank analytical review that estimated that 87 million Nigerians lived in poor housing conditions, with a housing deficit of approximately 17 million units.
Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr Andrew Mamedu, said poverty was not inevitable but was sustained by inequality, exclusion and policy choices that limited access to necessities and economic opportunities.
Mamedu called for public budgets that prioritise citizens’ welfare, social protection programmes that reach vulnerable households and economic policies that promote decent employment and reduce inequality.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Government Targets 77,400 Housing Units Nationwide
He stressed that no Nigerian family should be forced to choose between food, shelter, healthcare and education.
On social protection, ActionAid Nigeria said the National Social Register remained an important tool for identifying poor and vulnerable households but warned that registration alone did not guarantee access to government assistance.
He urged the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office, State Operations Coordinating Units and other relevant institutions to improve transparency, data integrity and accountability in identifying eligible households and delivering available support.
The organisation also called on federal and state governments to expand access to affordable housing and essential services, while ensuring that women, young people, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their welfare.
Through the European Union-funded Support for Strengthening Social Protection in Nigeria project, ActionAid Nigeria said it was working with partners to promote awareness of the National Social Register and strengthen community participation in Abia, Benue, Oyo and Sokoto States.
Mamedu urged governments and development partners to move beyond policy declarations and adopt sustained investments and measurable targets that would deliver lasting improvements in citizens’ lives.
He said poverty reduction should be assessed not only through economic indicators but also through access to decent housing, nutritious food, essential services and effective social protection.
