Abuja: The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has unveiled the fifth wave of the General Household Survey-Panel (GHS-Panel), which will help track the resilience of Nigerian households over time. This initiative was announced during a ceremony in Abuja, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between the NBS and the World Bank.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the GHS-Panel Wave 5 for 2023/2024 serves as a multi-topic data collection tool that captures essential dynamics of Nigerian households. Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician-General of the Federation, emphasized the survey’s role in providing insights into household economic activities, well-being, and resilience. The survey collects data on household income, assets, consumption, income-generating activities, health, education, and various shocks. This longitudinal survey tracks and interviews the same respondents over time, following approximately 5,000 households since the first wave in 2010/2011.
The panel approach allows for detailed analysis of lif
e and living conditions in Nigeria. For instance, data from Waves Four and Five enabled the creation of an asset index categorizing households into three wealth groups. It was found that 41.7% of households remained in the same wealth quintile as in Wave 4, 29.4% experienced upward mobility, and 28.9% faced a decline in wealth distribution. Factors influencing these changes include environmental and economic shocks, with floods and post-harvest losses being significant causes of downward mobility.
Adeniran highlighted the survey’s impact on knowledge contribution and policy application. Over the past five years, findings have informed projects and interventions worth approximately 8.9 billion Dollars across sectors such as Agriculture, Food, Education, Water, Social Protection and Jobs, and Governance. The 5th wave introduces enhanced modules on migration patterns, remittances, climate-related shocks, and children’s early development, identifying primary caregivers within households.
He urged policymakers,
researchers, and stakeholders to engage with the data for evidence-based decisions and policymaking, supporting poverty reduction, social welfare, and economic development strategies. Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, represented by Dr. Zainab Pisagih, noted the survey’s role in decision-making, strategic planning, and resource allocation for the Nigerian economy.
Dr. Ndiame Diop, World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, represented by Vinay Vutukuru, highlighted the survey’s importance in understanding household responses to policy changes and crises. He stressed the significance of data utilization by ministries and stakeholders for effective policy formulation to achieve economic and sustainable growth, pledging ongoing support to strengthen Nigeria’s statistical system.