Nigeria’s Rural Poverty Hits 75% — Worse Than 1960, Big Tent Coalition Warns
By SpringnewsNG Media Limited | July 29, 2025
Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s rural poverty has reached alarming levels, with living conditions now worse than they were at independence in 1960, according to a new grassroots survey by the Big Tent Coalition, a reformist political movement led by Professor Pat Utomi.
The coalition’s 14‑page report, released on Sunday, revealed that 75 percent of rural Nigerians live in chronic poverty, trapped in cycles of hunger, insecurity, and economic neglect. It warned that Nigeria is “on the brink of a multidimensional crisis”, with a political class focused on power and propaganda rather than purpose.
“You don’t need statistics to see that hunger is savaging the land. Walk the streets of Ibadan or Maiduguri and you’ll see the new destitution,” the group stated.
Hunger, Insecurity, and Collapsing Rural Economies
The Big Tent Coalition compared Nigeria’s current rural landscape with the early post‑independence era when agriculture generated national savings and sustained communities.
Today, rural regions have been decimated by insecurity, policy neglect, and rising food costs, leaving millions of households without access to basic services.
The group’s findings align with international relief agencies reporting that:
- 129 million Nigerians were in poverty by 2024
- Over 30 million Nigerians face acute food and nutrition insecurity during the ongoing lean season
‘State Losing Legitimacy’ Amid Corruption and Extravagance
Beyond economic data, the report issued a moral indictment of Nigeria’s leadership, accusing the government of wasteful spending while citizens face mass hunger and joblessness.
The coalition cited examples like new presidential jets and the Lagos‑Calabar superhighway project, which it described as “classic cases of state capture” with little impact on poverty alleviation.
“The tragedy of the Nigerian condition is that governments continue running in profligacy in the face of mass misery,” the report said.
Agriculture and Human Capital in Crisis
- Agriculture, once Nigeria’s economic backbone, now suffers from policy paralysis, insecurity, and a N1.04 trillion trade deficit
- Over $10 billion is spent annually on food imports, worsening rural economic decline
- Health and education systems are failing, with over 60% of Nigerian doctors working abroad and public schools collapsing under poor funding
The coalition called for urgent policy interventions, including:
- Assigning universities to lead agricultural extension services
- Reforming land tenure systems to unlock capital
- Building rural infrastructure and food processing clusters
- Digitising elections and public finance to curb corruption
- Introducing constitutional amendments to mandate balanced budgets, except for investment‑grade borrowing
A Nation at a Crossroads
Pat Utomi warned that Nigeria’s economic and moral crisis is now existential, urging citizens to reclaim governance through democratic participation.
“The state of our nation is terrifying,” Utomi said. “Citizens have a duty to reclaim the public square. This is the purpose of democracy — and this is the urgency of now.”
The Big Tent Coalition concluded that turning the tide on rural poverty requires radical innovation, inclusive governance, and immediate investment in human capital to prevent a total socio‑economic collapse.
