The World Bank’s Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2022 report reveals a staggering 712 million people globally live in extreme poverty, with Nigeria accounting for 83 million. Dr. Uwemedimo Esiet, co-founder and director of Action Health Incorporated, emphasizes the need for increased public education and enlightenment to address the growing number of gender-related crimes. “We need to ensure that communities become custodians of the children and young people’s rights to life, association, education, and to just enjoy their fundamental human rights.”
The Nigerian government’s removal of fuel subsidies and exchange rate devaluation policies has exacerbated inflation, rising from 22.41% in May 2023 to 34.19% in June 2024. Food inflation has reached 40.87%, leading to the “Ebi n pawa o” outcry, meaning “the Nigerian masses are hungry.”
Labour unions have proposed a minimum wage of N494,000, later reduced to N250,000, while the Federal Government proposed between N62,000 and N65,000. The agreed minimum wage of N70,000, after accounting for inflation, is barely N8,750 in real terms.
“The real value of the minimum wage has diminished considerably over the years,” says a labour union leader. “We need a living wage that can sustain Nigerian workers and their families. The current situation is unbearable.”
The government has taken some measures to ease the hardship, including releasing food to state governments and providing fertilizers to farmers. However, these measures have not alleviated the suffering. “The government still needs to do a lot more,” says a concerned citizen. “They need to restore confidence and trust, reduce the cost of governance, and increase food production.”
Experts warn that the situation may worsen if urgent action is not taken. “Nigeria is facing a perfect storm of economic and social challenges,” says Dr. Ayo Teriba, a leading economist. “The government must act decisively to address the root causes of poverty and hunger.”
As the situation worsens, Nigerians cry out for help. “Ebi n pawa o” – the hunger is unbearable. Will the government heed the call and take drastic measures to alleviate the suffering? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, ordinary Nigerians struggle to survive. “I can barely feed my family,” says Mrs. Nkechi, a mother of three. “The prices of food are too high, and my husband’s salary is not enough. We need help.”
The Nigerian government must act quickly to address the poverty crisis and restore hope to its citizens. The cry of “Ebi n pawa o” must be heard and answered.
