A United Nations report on Nigeria’s Common Country
Analysis, CCA, has described the country as one of the poorest and unequal
country in the world, with over 80m of her population living below poverty
line.
The report read in part: “Nigeria, with a population of over
175 million, is the most populous nation in Africa and the seventh most
populous in the world. Her population will be approximately 200 million by 2019
and over 400 million by 2050, becoming one of the top five populous countries
in the world.
“Nigeria is one of the poorest and most unequal countries in
the world, with over 80 million or 64% of her population living below poverty
line. The situation has not changed over the decades, but is increasing.
Poverty and hunger have remained high in rural areas, remote communities and
among female –headed households and these cut across the six geo-political
zones, with prevalence ranging from approximately 46.9 percent in the South
West to 74.3 percent in North West and North East.
“In Nigeria, 37% of children under five years old were
stunted, 18 percent wasted, 29% underweight and overall, only 10% of children
aged 6-23 months are fed appropriately based on recommended infant and young
children feeding practices.
“Youth unemployment which is 42% in 2016 is very high,
creating poverty, helplessness, despair and easy target for crime and
terrorism. Over 10 million children of school age are out of schools with no
knowledge and skills.
“Nigeria’s economy is currently in a recession and it is
estimated that government revenues have fallen by as much as 33 percent, which
has further resulted in the contraction of the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, by
0.36 percent in the first three months of 2016.
“Over-exploitation of natural resources and pollution of the
environment, desertification are exposing the population to vulnerability and
risks caused by climate change, among others. “Nigeria is well-endowed with
forest resources, accounting for 2.5% of GDP. But Nigeria has one of the
highest rates of forest loss in the world. Between 1990 and 2000, Nigeria lost
an average of 409,700 hectares of forest per year on average deforestation rate
of 3.5% per annum.
“Increase in population, human activities like farming,
construction and cutting of trees, use of wood and effect of climate change
lead to environmental destruction across Nigeria.
“This in turn leads to unpredictable weather, drought and
floods. The implication of destruction of the environment includes reduced
agricultural productivity, destruction of property and loss of lives.
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