FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE NIGERIAN LIVING STANDARDS SURVEY
(NLSS) NLSS 2018/19


1. What is the Nigerian Living Standards Survey (NLSS)?

a. The NLSS is a household-based survey conducted by the National Bureau
of Statistics in collaboration with the World Bank. The main objective of
the survey is to collect information on the living conditions of the Nigerian
population. The survey collected data on individual and household
demographics (age, gender, marital status, among others), access to
education, health and basic services, employment, assets, and income.
The survey is used to measure the prevalence of poverty and to estimate
a wide range of socio-economic indicators including benchmarking of the
Sustainable Development Goals.

2. Who conducts the survey?

a. The survey was conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in
collaboration the World Bank.

3. How often is it carried out?

a. Conventionally, the survey is meant to be carried out every 3 – 5 years.
The last round of the survey was conducted in 2009/10, making it almost
ten years since the last official poverty estimates. The most recent round
was conducted in 2018/19, albeit with notable changes in the
methodology. The next round is scheduled for 2023.

4. When was the survey conducted?

a. The survey was conducted between 2018 and 2019. The planning and
preparation for the survey started early in 2018; however, the actual field
work and data collection for the survey was done between September
2018 and October 2019. This is typical of surveys collecting data on
consumption in countries with large rural population, to account for
seasonality. The analysis and validation of the responses started in
November 2019 and was concluded in March 2020.

5. Who are the target respondents?

a. The target population of the survey are individuals in households across
the country, by states (including FCT), both urban and rural dwellers.

6. What was the sample size and response rate of the survey?

a. The sample design was initially intended to cover 600 households per
state, making 22,200 households nationwide. However, due mainly to
challenges in Borno State, only 22,110 households were sampled. The
overall response rate exceeded 95 percent, which is one of the highest for
a household survey of this magnitude

Poverty Estimates

2. Why is there no poverty estimate for Borno state?

a. In order to estimate poverty for the state of Borno, the selection of the
households would have to be statewide and random. Due to the security
situation in Borno, many areas were inaccessible. The NBS collected
information from 530 households in Borno from areas that remained
accessible despite the security situation. However, making estimates
based on these 530 households would only reflect poverty in safer
communities in Borno and would therefore not be representative of the
state as a whole.

3. Is poverty rising or falling in Nigeria?

a. The NLSS 2018/19 is a new baseline for tracking the status of poverty in
Nigeria. With support from the World Bank, the NBS adopted best practice
in the collection and processing of the data. As is often the case, such
improvements come at the expense of giving up some degree of
comparability with earlier rounds of the survey while achieving high
standards in survey practice. Aside from the use of electronic devices for
data collection, a 7-day recall for recording household consumption and
expenditure was adopted for this round, as opposed to the monthly
consumption diary used in previous rounds. In addition, additional efforts
were made to measure food quantities in households using non-standard
units of measurement, resulting in better quantification of food
consumption. All these new changes and improvements, as well as the lag
between this round and the last round make it problematic to compare,
therefore, a deliberate decision was made to use the 2018/19 round as
the new baseline. As such, it is not possible to say whether poverty
increased or decreased between 2009/10 and 2018/19, because of the
changes made in the survey design and implementation.

Using the data
1. Why are these data relevant?

a. The results of the NLSS are extremely useful and important for Nigeria and
Nigerians. Primarily, the data is useful for policymaking, for research and
for holding government at various levels accountable to their promises. It
can help targeting government interventions, designing of policy and
programs, as well as monitoring the implementation and status of existing
ones. The information is also useful to the private sector for business and
investment decision making, as well as to development sector operators
to guide the operations.

2. How can I access the poverty report and data?

a. E-library of NBS website (http://nigerianstat.gov.ng/elibrary). The
datasets are currently under preparation.

Source: http://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/download/1093

Front page: Lalasticlala mynd44

The survey was conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration the World Bank.

It seems the world bank did participate in this poverty stats collection. This should comfort people who disbelieved the latest stats. The fact is the poverty stat just upset certain people because it didn't align with their expectations. The methodology itself seems like it improved overall.

Looooool sorry iPods your not the richest tribe as you falsely claim

Even the NBS consumption statistics that came out eastern region was the least

The report couldn’t answer one of the most important questions; whether poverty was rising or falling in Nigeria.

Ps: please don’t quote me to explain why they couldn’t answer the question, the explanation was there, I read it

So is Ibo still the richest in Africa or not

hmmm

socialmediaman:
The report couldn’t answer one of the most important questions; whether poverty was rising or falling in Nigeria, just some bla bla bla explanation of changed modeling structure

You'll just have to wait a few years till the next poverty stat is released to compare. Then you can get an apples to apples comparison.

It is not possible to say whether poverty increased or decreased between 2009/10 and 2018/19, because of the 
changes made in the survey design and implementation.

a. The NLSS is a household-based survey conducted by the National Bureau
of Statistics in collaboration with the World Bank. The main objective of
the survey is to collect information on the living conditions of the Nigerian
population. The survey collected data on individual and household
demographics (age, gender, marital status, among others), access to
education, health and basic services, employment, assets, and income.
The survey is used to measure the prevalence of poverty and to estimate
a wide range of socio-economic indicators including benchmarking of the
Sustainable Development Goals.

2. Who conducts the survey?

a. The survey was conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in
collaboration the World Bank.

3. How often is it carried out?

So the World Bank also conspired with NBS to lie against the Igbos.

They need to submit a petition to UN, Trump, CNN, ICC, WHO to rectify this injustice coz it’s evident the World Bank are jealous of Igbos and marginalizing them.

Igbos are poverty capital of the south!

Blue3k:


You'll just have to wait a few years till the next poverty stat is released to compare. Then you can get an apples to apples comparison.

I read the bla bla bla explanation which showed their incompetence over the years since modern data modeling systems became available globally. Oya let them mention the name of the new baseline for data collection and implementation and you’ll see it’s been available for at least 10 - 15 years. We make yearly budgets to finance the activities of some incompetent and corrupt fools who are working in NBS for no reason other than nepotism.

I visited their office at CBD once and was given a tour and all I could do was SMH at the slow and old systems and lack of adequately qualified personnel

YorubaHero12:
So the World Bank also conspired with NBS to lie against the Igbos.

They need to submit a petition to UN, Trump, CNN, ICC, WHO to rectify this injustice coz it’s evident the World Bank are jealous of Igbos and marginalizing them.

Igbos are poverty capital of the south!

Why not? After all, Afonja are traitors, they must have bribed their way to manipulate the UN, Worldbank, and the rest.

Keep quiet jor.
What nonsense!!. We are rhe richest whether you like it or not.

Lol when NBS said Nigeria was in a recession they all hailed it, when they said we have left recession they kicked against it. The same crowd have tribalised this report because it breaks their many falsehood and exposes the ingrained incompetence in the leaders they pretend are superior to others. Was I supprised by the survey report, yes but that doesn't mean I reject it because it defeated the lies and propaganda of some hateful people. even ordinary Kogi state had lower poverty level than 5 states of the SE, yet a certain hateful group called ipob prefer attacking Kogi Governor than holding their leaders to account. When we begin to understand that our primary concern should be how our states are being governed and holding our elected leaders to account instead of thinking we know what is better for others then we have solved half of our problem.

Any sort of poverty statistics in Nigeria is going to be inaccurate, because Nigeria lacks a National Identification System (National Identification Card, National Insurance Number, Social Security etc).

It (Nigeria) has no way of identifying how many people are in the country and their current economic situation, i.e. whether they're in work, claiming benefits (which are nonexistent in Nigeria), taxation payments, household wealth etc...

In short, Nigeria's statistics on poverty are highly speculative; they're simply based on surveys, with a miniscule sample size. How can you extrapolate from 600 respondents in a state like Lagos that has 20 million people? Or in a place like Ogun State, which has over 4 million people in it? It's too small, ideally, you'd want to measure 20% of the populace, given the limitations, but surveying 40 million people is unreasonable.

In short, until Nigeria fully commits to its National Identification Card, you can forget about getting an accurate statistics on poverty in Nigeria. It's all speculation. Extrapolating from less than a fraction of the population is pointless.

rdokoye:
Any sort of poverty statistics in Nigeria is going to be inaccurate, because Nigeria lacks a National Identification System (National Identification Card, National Insurance Number, Social Security etc).

It (Nigeria) has no way of identifying how many people are in the country and their current economic situation, i.e. whether they're in work, claiming benefits (which are nonexistent in Nigeria), taxation payments, household wealth etc...

In short, Nigeria's statistics on poverty are highly speculative; they're simply based on surveys, with a miniscule sample size. How can you extrapolate from 600 respondents in a state like Lagos that has 20 million people? Or in a place like Ogun State, which has over 4 million people in it? It's too small, ideally, you'd want to measure 20% of the populace, given the limitations, but surveying 40 million people is unreasonable.

In short, until Nigeria fully commits to its National Identification Card, you can forget about getting an accurate statistics on poverty in Nigeria. It's all speculation. Extrapolating from less than a fraction of the population is pointless.

Pele all because Igbo land was declared the poverty capital

Stalwert:
Lol when NBS said Nigeria was in a recession they all hailed it, when they said we have left recession they kicked against it. The same crowd have tribalised this report because it breaks their many falsehood and exposes the ingrained incompetence in the leaders they pretend are superior to others. Was I supprised by the survey report, yes but that doesn't mean I reject it because it defeated the lies and propaganda of some hateful people. even ordinary Kogi state had lower poverty level than 5 states of the SE, yet a certain hateful group called ipob prefer attacking Kogi Governor than holding their leaders to account. When we begin to understand that our primary concern should be how our states are being governed and holding our elected leaders to account instead of thinking we know what is better for others.

Measuring the size of the economy and collating statistical data on poverty, are two entirely different things.

It's easy to keep track on what Nigeria is earning, every quarter. But it's virtually impossible to determine how rich a populace is, if you are unable to keep track of the people within the country itself.

If you can't determine how many people in Ogun State have a job, because you don't really know how many people are actually in Ogun State. Then how can you know how many of them are poor?

rdokoye:


Measuring the size of the economy and collating statistical data on poverty, are two entirely different things.

It's easy to keep track on what Nigeria is earning, every quarter. But it's virtually impossible to determine how rich a populace is, if you are unable to keep track of the people within the country itself.

If you can't determine how many people in Ogun State have a job, because you don't really know how many people are actually in Ogun State. Then how can you know how many of them are poor?

I think you should first understand statistical methodology, you don't need to meet everyone to know their actual condition.

Adefatima:


Pele all because Igbo land was declared the poverty capital

No, because the statistics don't reflect reality. Any statistic that declares Igboland as a poverty capital is NOT credible.

Igbo people are NOT poor, that's not an opinion - it's a fact. A fact that EVERYONE in Nigeria knows. Including YOU.

rdokoye:


Measuring the size of the economy and collating statistical data on poverty, are two entirely different things.

It's easy to keep track on what Nigeria is earning, every quarter. But it's virtually impossible to determine how rich a populace is, if you are unable to keep track of the people within the country itself.

If you can't determine how many people in Ogun State have a job, because you don't really know how many people are actually in Ogun State. Then how can you know how many of them are poor?

Employment stat

Employment stats

www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/download/694

Stalwert:


I think you should first understand statistical methodology, you don't need to meet everyone to know their actual condition.

I understand the methodology, it's based on extrapolations, and of course, you don't need to meet everyone. In a country of 200 million people, that would be a gargantuan task. But you do need a significant sample size, if you want fairly accurate results.

The problem with a country like Nigeria, is that it doesn't have any way of keeping track of its population (for obvious reasons). So it can't determine the mean income of households in any given area without asking them (with surveys). In advanced countries, they can simply acquire such data, without having to ask you, and because they can do that, they're sample size covers, almost the entire population - excluding economically inactive peoples.

rdokoye:


Measuring the size of the economy and collating statistical data on poverty, are two entirely different things.

It's easy to keep track on what Nigeria is earning, every quarter. But it's virtually impossible to determine how rich a populace is, if you are unable to keep track of the people within the country itself.

If you can't determine how many people in Ogun State have a job, because you don't really know how many people are actually in Ogun State. Then how can you know how many of them are poor?

Then why are the southerners always tagging the North as the poverty capital all this while?

Then that means Borno might actually be richer than Imo state because the statistics that put Borno state below in NBS could be inaccurate since we need to sample 20% of the population like you said on your former post.

Infact going forward, everyone should not believe Nigeria is the poverty capital from the likes of agencies likes of World Bank coz they did not sample like 36 million of Nigeria population before reaching their conclusion.

Also, Buhari did not actually plunge the nation into poverty and he can also argue NBS need to sample several million of people in Nigeria before publishing the poverty statistics.

We might as well stop believing all data and start giving statistical data based on our wishful thinking!

rdokoye:


No, because the statistics don't reflect reality. Any statistic that declares Igboland as a poverty capital is NOT credible.

Igbo people are NOT poor, that's not an opinion - it's a fact. A fact that EVERYONE in Nigeria knows. Including YOU.

The only fact everyone know about is that Igbos are the poverty capital of the south.

totit:


Employment stat

Employment stats

www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/download/694

Employment rates in Nigeria is calculated using the Labor Force Population, which is derived from Nigeria's flawed population figures. It's simply speculation.

Unlike in the UK, where everyone has a National Insurance Number, which the government can use to determine whether or not you're working.

It's flawed.

socialmediaman:


You just did what I said don’t do. I read the bla bla bla explanation which shows their incompetence over the years since modern data modeling systems became available globally. Oya let them mention the name of the new baseline for data collection and implementation and you’ll see it’s been available for at least 10 - 15 years. We make yearly budgets to finance the activities of some incompetent and corrupt fools who are working in NBS for no reason other than nepotism.

I visited their office at CBD once and was given a tour and all I could do was SMH at the slow and old systems and lack of adequately qualified personnel

Lol you dont find it silly to whine about them not answering an impossible question? Its fine if you want complain they sucked in previous years if you want to change subject. If the government choose to fund them adequately the would've already done these things. Funding is their excuse for not updating the unemployment rate since 2018.

rdokoye:


Employment rates in Nigeria is calculated using the Labor Force Population, which is derived from Nigeria's flawed population figures. It's simply speculation.

Unlike in the UK, where everyone has a National Insurance Number, which the government can use to determine whether or not you're working.

It's flawed.

Lmao!!!!

Everything is flawed :I

God bless the SW the land of milk and honey.

YorubaHero12:


Then why are the southerners always tagging the North as the poverty capital all this while?

Then that means Borno might actually be richer than Imo state because the statistics that put Borno state below in NBS could be inaccurate since we need to sample 20% of the population like you said on your former post.

Infact going forward, everyone should not believe Nigeria is the poverty capital from the likes of agencies likes of World Bank coz they did not sample like 36 million of Nigeria population before reaching their conclusion.

Also, Buhari did not actually plunge the nation into poverty and he can also argue NBS need to sample several million of people in Nigeria before publishing the poverty statistics.

We might as well stop believing all data and start giving statistical data based on our wishful thinking!

Borno wasn't even calculated, in the statistics. It says it quite clearly, if you'd bothered to read it.

But that's beside the point. In the case of the South, where you actually have a working class, middle class and the rich. A larger sample size would obviously be more significant. A state like Borno, that pretty much only has poor and a small elite class - margin for error is going to be much smaller - but again, that's conjecture, and for the most part, based on eye service. The poverty is visible and glaring.

It's not a mystery, you can actually SEE who is living better. I don't know why you're trying to mystify things.

totit:


Lmao!!!!

Everything is flawed :I

God bless the SW the land of milk and honey.

If lying to yourself makes you feel better, then fine.

SW has a serious infrastructure deficit, with most of its populace living in slum-like conditions. That should be your primary concern. Not inaccurate statistics, less you become complacent. Or maybe, you're happy with the current predicament of your land?

rdokoye:


If lying to yourself makes you feel better, then fine.

SW has a serious infrastructure deficit[b], with most of its populace living in slum-like conditions. That should be your primary concern. Not inaccurate statistics, less you become complacent. Or maybe, you're happy with the current predicament of your land?

Ok. I believe your oral stats above the one conducted by NBS and UN.

I have heard you.

rdokoye:


Borno wasn't even calculated, in the statistics. It says it quite clearly, if you'd bothered to read it.

But that's beside the point. In the case of the South, where you actually have a working class, middle class and the rich. A larger sample size would obviously be more significant. A state like Borno, that pretty much only has poor and a small elite class - margin for error is going to be much smaller - but again, that's conjecture, and for the most part, based on eye service. The poverty is visible and glaring.

It's not a mystery, you can actually SEE who is living better. I don't know why you're trying to mystify things.

I quoted Borno not based on the report but just using it as part of my analogy to expose you for choosing the data not to believe simply because it’s against your people.

How do you come about the statement that Borno has only poor people and few elites? Did you lived there to sample 20% of the population or you’re just dishing out statistics for the fun of it?

You can’t choose when to believe, either you believe NBS completely or you don’t believe them at all.

Question: NBS over the years have always said North is poorer than south, do you believe them?

If you believe them above, do you think they sampled 20% of the people of the North before reaching their conclusion?

rdokoye:


If lying to yourself makes you feel better, then fine.

SW has a serious infrastructure deficit, with most of its populace living in slum-like conditions. That should be your primary concern. Not inaccurate statistics, less you become complacent. Or maybe, you're happy with the current predicament of your land?

Lol. This should be a joke of the century.

A SE’ner telling a SW’ner that they have infrastructure deficit.

rdokoye:


I understand the methodology, it's based on extrapolations, and of course, you don't need to meet everyone. In a country of 200 million people, that would be a gargantuan task. But you do need a significant sample size, if you want fairly accurate results.

The problem with a country like Nigeria, is that it doesn't have any way of keeping track of its population (for obvious reasons). So it can't determine the mean income of households in any given area without asking them (with surveys). In advanced countries, they can simply acquire such data, without having to ask you, and because they can do that, they're sample size covers, almost the entire population - excluding economically inactive peoples.

That is they survey them to get information that is not readily available, even advanced countries still do surveys, not everyone is captured in the formal economy and there are many homeless people.

You are disputing this because you really do not understand statistical methodology, if you did you properly articulate your argument.