Ibadan

Ibadan is one of Nigeria's oldest and largest cities, a sprawling, hilly place of red rooftops, busy markets like Bodija and Dugbe, and a population that's used to hustle and community ties running deep despite the size. Average household income in Oyo State hovers around 40,000 to 60,000 naira a month for many working-class families, which tells you money is tight for a lot of people even with a roof over their heads, so you're not alone in feeling squeezed. Nigeria doesn't keep a clean official count of homeless people in Ibadan specifically, but Lagos, the nearest major metro with documented figures, recorded over 3 million people living in informal or precarious housing conditions as of recent state housing assessments, and Ibadan's numbers track a similar pattern of overcrowding and displacement even without an exact tally. The Salvation Army has a presence in Ibadan and sometimes offers shelter or basic aid to people in crisis, and the Catholic Diocese of Ibadan runs charitable outreach through its parishes that includes food and occasional material support. The Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion also handles some welfare programs, though access can be slow and depends on documentation, so it helps to ask around at churches and mosques near Dugbe or Bodija, which often know who's currently distributing food or blankets. Nights can get cool during harmattan season, especially December through February, so layering matters more than people expect in a place this warm most of the year. You've made it this far, and that counts for something; keep your ID and any papers close, stay near people you trust, and take today one meal and one safe corner at a time.