Reno Omokri’s claims on life expectancy in Nigeria false

A former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, recently claimed that Nigeria’s average life expectancy in 2010 was 47 years and it increased to 54 years in 2015. The popular author and activist also claimed that “Nigeria made her greatest improvement in improving average life expectancy” in 2014.

VERDICT: False. Omokri’s claim that Nigeria’s average life expectancy in 2010 was 47 years is false. Records show it was 50.9 years. The claim that life expectancy increased to 54 years in 2015 is also false. Life expectancy in 2015 was 53.1 years. Evidential data do not also support his claim that “Nigeria made her greatest improvement in improving average life expectancy” in 2014.

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United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report on Nigeria and World Bank data show that Nigeria’s life expectancy in 2013 was 52.23 years and this remained almost unchanged in 2014 at 52.67 years before it rose significantly to 53.11 years in 2015.

Recently, Omokri released a statement detailing why he initiated the protest against President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

The statement, which has been widely circulated in the media, listed worsening life expectancy in Nigeria as part of the reasons for the protest.

“In 2010, the Average Life Expectancy in Nigeria was 47 years. Five years down the line, Nigeria’s Average Life Expectancy increased to 54 years,” he stated.

He added that whereas, in 2014, Nigeria made her greatest improvement in improving average life expectancy, life expectancy in Northern Nigeria went down, while increasing in other parts of the nation.

How true are these claims?

Brief on life expectancy

World Health Organisation (WHO) defines life expectancy at birth as the average number of years that a newborn is expected to live if current mortality rates continue to apply.

That is, life expectancy tells the average number of years of life a person who has attained a given age can expect to live.

“Life expectancy at birth reflects the overall mortality level of a population. It summarizes the mortality pattern that prevails across all age groups – children and adolescents, adults and the elderly,” WHO stated.

WHO computes life expectancy of countries using data from vital registration, census and surveys.

Significant factors in life expectancy include gender, genetics, hygiene, diet and exercise, access to quality healthcare, lifestyle and culture, and crime rates. Studies indicate that longevity is based on two major factors: genetics and lifestyle choices. Given this, countries around the world have varying life expectancies.

Globally, WHO data show that life expectancy has increased by more than 6 years between 2000 and 2019 – from 66.8 years in 2000 to 73.4 years in 2019.

Verification

The Human Development Index (HDI) reports of the UNDP showed that average life expectancy in Nigeria was 50.9 years.

Five years down the line, UNDP’s HDI of Nigeria showed that life expectancy in the country was 53.1 years in 2015.

Similarly, data from the World Bank showed that life expectancy in Nigeria in 2010 was 50.9 years while in 2015, it rose to 53.1 years.

To check the improvement in average life expectancy in 2014, life expectancy data in 2013, 2014 and 2015 were consulted.

United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index and World Bank data show that Nigeria’s life expectancy in 2013 was 52.23 years and this remained almost unchanged in 2014 at 52.67 years before it rose significantly to 53.11 years in 2015.

Checks showed that Nigeria’s apex statistical body, the National Bureau of Statistics collaborates with the UNDP in generating Human Development reports for Nigeria.

Conclusion

Omokri’s claim that Nigeria’s average life expectancy in 2010 was 47 years is false. Records show it was 50.9 years. The claim that life expectancy increased to 54 years in 2015 is also false. Life expectancy in 2015 was 53.1 years. Evidential data do not support the claim that “Nigeria made her greatest improvement in improving average life expectancy” in 2014. United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index on Nigeria and World Bank data show that Nigeria’s life expectancy in 2013 was 52.23 years and this remained almost unchanged in 2014 at 52.67 years before it rose significantly to 53.11 years in 2015.