Groping In the Dark (Poverty): The Nigerian Experience
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Date
2012
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European Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences
Abstract
In 1985, poverty incidence in Nigeria had risen to 46.3% from 27.2% in 1980. This later rose to almost 70% in 2010. The problems of poverty were found mainly from misuse of resources the country is endowed with. The rising poverty trend is also traceable to people orientation about governance. More than four billion barrels of crude oil were sold between 2004 and 2010 and at an exchange rate of N120/$ and $70 dollars per barrel, the total proceeds would have been at least N32 trillion. For a transformation agenda to work in all its ramifications, 2% of the population should not be cornering 80% of the nations’ resources as it is presently in operation by the top echelon public servants. Poverty alleviation programmes to the present time were reviewed and shortcomings were highlighted. It was found out that governments at all levels are not doing enough to combat poverty as it is being done in developing countries. The paper then recommends that infrastructural facilities like power, good roads, health care and effective educational systems should be provided adequately and improved.